Solving Compositional Problems Before It’s Too Late
Most artists struggle with composition and only realize problems when it’s too late to fix them. Cindy’s “Tonal Composing” method changes everything by addressing design issues early in the painting process.
You’ll discover how starting with a foreground shape gives you perfect proportions for the entire scene — a simple yet powerful technique that transforms how you approach every landscape.
“When the canvas is covered with rich colors, I begin to compose. I start with a shape in the foreground,” Cindy explains. “By putting in a shape up close, it will actually give you good proportions to lay out your painting to include distance.”
This breakthrough approach means you’ll never again run out of room for foreground elements or struggle with awkward compositions.
Turn Chaotic Color into Harmonious Landscapes
If you’ve ever been overwhelmed by the challenge of painting landscapes — especially those difficult spring greens — Cindy’s color mixing techniques will be a revelation.
You’ll learn how to mix rich, vibrant colors that harmonize beautifully, creating landscapes that feel cohesive and natural rather than jarring or artificial.
Cindy’s approach to harmonizing tonal values with lights and darks creates paintings that simply work. As she demonstrates her techniques for mixing grays and greens, you’ll gain the confidence to handle even the most challenging color scenarios with ease.
From Wild Beginnings to Beautiful Endings
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of Cindy’s approach is witnessing the transformation from what appears to be wild, abstract beginnings to refined, expressive finished paintings. Her students often marvel: “I can’t believe you started out so abstract and brought it to realistic.”
You’ll discover the freedom that comes with Cindy’s bold starting technique and the surprising effectiveness of her unconventional tools (like Q-tips and Kleenex) for strategic paint removal. This process eliminates the fear of the blank canvas while building the foundation for a successful painting.
Best of all, you might just fall in love with the early block-in stage and discover a whole new direction for your artistic expression!
