Cynthia Chartier combines research and her imagination to create rich backstories about the musicians and poets in her works. She starts each oil painting with a story in mind, and applies rich jewel tones and mixed-media elements, including rare African textiles, foreign newsprint, and manuscripts. In art school, Matisse, Picasso, Braque, and Barbara Woods were Cynthia's greatest influences. After graduating, she was swept into the magical world of theater. The Royal Poinciana Playhouse in Palm Beach hired Cynthia as their scenic artist painting sets. Then, she moved on to the Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre as their scenic artist painting 40-foot drops and set decoration. Now, she creates her fine art paintings from her studio, which is a well-organized space in her home, and she explains, "the energy is clear and free to take my thoughts mixed with music to that place where you lose yourself and the painting takes on a life of its own." She cares for her tropical fish, a lionhead bunny, and a cat, who are best buddies. Cynthia loves wild animals, and she volunteers at a big cat wildlife rescue, designs aquascapes, and rides Arabian horses.