What counts as a test of a level
Not every wick near a line is a test. Here is the simple rule we use in the Cunningham studio.
Notes
Short reads before your next markup session
Practical notes on tests, zones, invalidation, and quiet chart prep—written for students who already open a chart, not for spectacle.
Why we prefer zones to pencil lines
Exact prices feel precise; zones survive the noise of real candles.
Keep an invalidation note beside every zone
A level without exit criteria becomes decoration. Add one sentence when you draw.
Quiet chart prep before a workshop
Arrive with three clean charts and one question. That is enough.