dianmz:

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1. Set up your horizon line. Think about dividing your composition into thirds, both horizontally and vertically. Use the intersections to locate your main subjects.

You can read more about this technique here:

Photography: 15 Great Examples of the Rule of Thirds in Action

The Rule of Thirds: A Simple Way to Improve Your Images

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2. Know where you vanishing point (focal point) is. Plan ahead of time and use one perspective at a time. 

A) Overlap various elements within your composition so that some are forced forward or backward in the scene.

B) Use less detail, texture, and definition when painting objects in the mid-ground and background of the landscape.

C) Paint with lighter values and less contrast for distant elements

D) Use cooler colors to push elements farther into the background.

E) Use warmer, darker colors to bring elements forward into the foreground.

F) As elements recede in the distance, paint them at a much smaller scale than objects in the foreground.

E) D and E are interchangeable.

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3. Use wide-angle lens to look at your compositions.

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5. Unity and Variety

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You can read more here:

Design in Art: Emphasis, Variety and Unity

Art Appreciation, Principles of Art: Unity, Variety, Balance, Scale, & Proportion

Unity In Design: Creating Harmony Between Design Elements

Design Basics – Unity

Principles of Design

Also read: 

  • How to Draw: Drawing and Sketching Objects and Environments from Your Imagination, by Scott Robertson
  • The Art of Paperblue, by Jae-Cheol Park 
  • Structura 3: The Art of Sparth, by Sparth (Nicolas Bouvier)

Keep in mind that there’s not one absolute way to create good compositions. Start your art with the big shapes and then move on to smaller shapes as you progress, it is going to save you a lot of time. Study photo theories and movie screenshots is also a good start point.

Good luck with everything.