SUMMER RESIDENCY
Composition Intensive: From Foundations to Advanced
with Nicole Santiago, Master Artist & Mentor
Develop compelling compositions that command attention and create lasting visual impact.
You Will Learn:
Design stronger, more intentional compositions with greater clarity, movement, and lasting visual impact
Organize pictorial relationships to establish a clear visual hierarchy that deliberately guides the viewer’s eye through the image
Apply the principles of design to create more unified, dynamic, and structurally cohesive compositions
Identify and resolve common compositional problems such as weak focal points, stiffness, fragmentation, and unresolved spatial relationships
Develop a deeper understanding of compositional structure through the analysis of masterworks and historical examples
Audience: Fine Art Painters
Medium: Your Medium of Choice
Stages: This residency is suitable for creatives at any stage.
Session Dates & Times:
July 18, Aug 1, 15, 29
12pm-2pm MDT / 2pm-4pm EDT/
7pm-9pm BST
$198.00
13 in stock
WORKSHOP Description
This workshop is a deep dive into the underlying structure of pictorial composition. It is designed for artists who want to move beyond intuition and develop a clearer understanding of why certain compositions feel convincing, dynamic, and emotionally engaging while others fall flat. Participants will learn strategies for designing stronger paintings and drawings from the earliest stages of ideation through final refinement.
Through lectures, demonstrations, critiques, and practical exercises, we will explore the core principles that shape effective pictorial design. Topics include visual hierarchy, value structure, balance and asymmetry, movement and rhythm, unity and variety, edge tension, spatial design, narrative clarity, and shape design. We will also examine how master artists across different traditions organize complex visual information into cohesive and compelling images.
This workshop is especially useful for artists who feel their work is technically competent but lacks impact, clarity, atmosphere, or cohesion. If you struggle with compositions feeling static, overcrowded, fragmented, or unresolved, or simply want a more reliable framework for constructing images, this course will give you practical tools to strengthen your visual language by improving your intentional decision-making and compositional control.
🎥 WORKSHOP RECORDINGS available for 1-YEAR after the workshop ends!
🎥 NOTE: Workshop Recordings may be offered for sale at a future date at Mastrius, with the consent of the instructor.
High School, University, and College students get 20% OFF. See FAQs at the bottom of page.
Supply List
Participants are encouraged to bring any painting materials they are comfortable working with (oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, etc.). The focus of the workshop is 2D compositional design rather than medium-specific instruction.
All the following supplies can be purchased at any art supply store (online or brick-and-mortar).
Diagram & Sketching Materials
• Sketchbook (digital or paper)
• Drawing materials (graphite, charcoal, pens, markers, etc.)
• A selection of reference images, physical still-life setups, sketches, or in-progress works to use during exercises and critiques
Painting Materials
• Paints (bring what you have)
• Brushes
• Palette and palette knife
• Painting surface (canvas, panel, paper, etc.)
• Solvent/medium (if applicable)
• Paper towels/rags
Recommended
• Several printed reproductions of artworks from a range of artists for compositional analysis
• A small portfolio or digital images of recent work for critique and discussion
Instructor Bio
Nicole Santiago is a representational painter known for her exploration of narrative through the human form and still life. She has participated in more than 150 group and solo exhibitions, and is represented by First Street Gallery in New York City. Santiago’s work has appeared in several publications, including The Artist’s Magazine, Art New England, INPA, International Artist, and Fine Art Connoisseur. In recognition of her achievements as a figure painter, she was recently a finalist for the Bennett Prize and awarded the Elaine Melotti Schmidt Award. She has been awarded full-fellowship residencies at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, VT, and the Ballinglen Arts Foundation in Ballycastle, Ireland. Santiago lives and works in Williamsburg, Virginia, where she also is also a professor of studio art at the College of William & Mary. To see more of Santiago’s works or to join her mailing list, go to www.NicoleMcCormickSantiago.com.
