Artist insights, creative techniques, suggested art supplies, and guided exercises for September 2026
by Elizabeth Ragona, with art by Christi Bunn. © 2026 Alabama Art Supply.

September invites a return to seeing clearly.

Enjoy Christi Bunn's architectural artwork as this Studio Notes art blog explores architectural sketching and observational drawing as tools for understanding form, proportion, and space. It isn’t about perfect perspective, but about recognizing relationships between shapes and how they live in space. Beginning with simple planes and angles before surface detail gives work clarity and confidence. These pages don’t demand technique—they ask for attention.

Seeing Form Before Detail

Architecture is built from simple forms: boxes, planes, verticals, and horizontals. When artists focus on these basic shapes first, complex scenes become manageable.

Rather than starting with windows, doors, or surface texture, architectural sketching asks:

• Where does this form sit in space?
• How does it relate to what’s next to it?
• What angles repeat?

Seeing structure first prevents overworking and builds confidence quickly.

Perspective as Relationship, Not Rules

Perspective doesn’t need to be technical to be effective. At its core, it’s about relationships—how objects change size, angle, and spacing as they move through space.

Instead of chasing perfect vanishing points, focus on:

• Vertical lines staying consistent
• Horizontal lines responding to eye level
• Overlaps that suggest depth
• Small corrections early save heavy editing later.

Line Weight and Visual Emphasis

Not all lines carry the same importance.

Architectural drawing benefits from variation:

• Thicker lines for foreground and structure
• Lighter lines for secondary elements
• Minimal lines for suggestion rather than explanation

Line weight becomes a compositional tool, guiding the viewer’s eye without adding unnecessary detail.

Restraint as a Skill

Architectural sketches often feel strongest when they stop early. Too much detail can flatten space and distract from structure.

Leaving areas open allows the drawing to breathe and keeps attention on proportion, rhythm, and clarity.

This kind of restraint carries into every medium.

Suggested Products (September, Weeks 36–39)

Week 36: Seeing Structure

• Sketchbook or drawing pad
• Graphite pencil set
• Eraser

Week 37: Space & Proportion

• Drawing paper
• Pencil
• Ruler (optional)

Week 38: Line with Intention

• Fine-line pens or markers
• Smooth drawing paper
• Scrap paper for testing

Week 39: Less Is More

• Sketchbook
• Pencil or ink pen

TRY IT NOW: Structure, Space & Seeing Clearly

September 2026 Studio Notes Exercise Guide

Inspired by Christi Bunn's architectural drawings 

September invites a return to "looking carefully." Architecture teaches us how space is organized—how forms relate, how proportions shift, and how clarity emerges through restraint. These exercises focus on seeing structure before detail and understanding how simple relationships build strong compositions.

There is no expectation of finished drawings. Let each week build quietly on the last. What you learn by observing matters more than what you complete.

WEEK 36: Seeing Structure

What

Observe an architectural subject and reduce it to its most basic forms—boxes, planes, and directional lines.

Why

Complex scenes become manageable when you identify their underlying structure. Seeing form first creates confidence and prevents overworking later.

How

• Choose a building, interior, or street view
• Ignore surface details like windows or textures
• Break the subject into simple shapes
• Use light lines and stay flexible

Reminder: If the structure feels right, detail can always wait.

WEEK 37: Space & Proportion

What

Study how objects change size, spacing, and angle as they move through space.

Why

Proportion communicates depth more effectively than perfect perspective. Understanding relationships builds believable space without technical rigidity.

How

• Compare sizes rather than measuring exactly
• Notice spacing between objects as they recede
• Use overlaps to suggest depth
  
• Adjust as you go—correction is part of seeing

Reminder: Proportion is about relationships, not rules.

WEEK 38: Line with Intention

What

Use varied line weight to emphasize structure and guide the viewer’s eye.

Why

Not all lines carry equal importance. Line weight helps organize information and creates visual hierarchy without adding detail.

How

• Use heavier lines for foreground and structure
• Lighten lines for secondary elements
• Avoid outlining everything equally
• Let some lines fade or disappear

Reminder: Line can suggest more than it describes.

WEEK 39: Less Is More

What

Practice stopping early and allowing open areas to remain unresolved.

Why

Too much detail can flatten space and weaken clarity. Restraint keeps attention on structure and proportion.

How

• Pause often and step back
• Ask what adds value—and what doesn’t
• Leave areas unfinished intentionally
• Resist the urge to “fix” everything

Reminder: A drawing can feel complete without being full.

⭐ Share Your Process

Trying the exercises? Finished or not, your process matters.

We’d love to see what you’re working on. Share your piece on social media and tag @AlabamaArtSupply or use #StudioNotesAAS so we can follow along.

A Final Thought

Structure doesn’t ask for perfection—it asks for attention.

Look for relationships before details. Let simple forms guide complex scenes.

And remember: when the foundation is clear, everything built on it becomes stronger.

Featured Artist Connection

This Studio Notes art blog is inspired by the work and approach of a featured artist at Alabama Art Supply. Visit the artist’s feature to explore their work, background, and creative perspective in more depth.

→ Meet the Featured Artist: Christi Bunn

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