Payne is famous for categorizing landscape structures into repeatable "stems." Mastering these allows an artist to quickly organize a chaotic outdoor scene.
Block in large shapes before adding any specific details like leaves or ripples. If you'd like to dive deeper, let me know:
Payne argues that a painting is not a literal copy of nature. Instead, it is a selection of elements organized into a unified whole. Don't paint everything you see. Unity: Every brushstroke must serve the main idea. Balance: Distribute visual weight to keep the eye moving. The 15 Compositional Forms