CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVEP.SITY, NORTHRIDGE
PAINTINGS
An abstract submitted in partial satisfaction of the
requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in
Art
by
Margaret Juanita Alter
May, 1982
The Abstract of Margaret Juanita Alter ls approved:
Norlman Fullner
. Howard
Williams
E. Bruce Everett., Conunittee Chairman
California State University, Northridge
May, 1982
11
DEDICATION
To Denise Hawe for her help and friendship.
iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I want to express my indebtedness to
my
teachers who shared their knowledge and sensitivities
with me, particularly my advisors who encouraged and
assisted my artistic endeavors.
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
.
DEDICATION • .. • • • • • • • . . • •
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • • • • • • • • • •
ABSTRACT • • • • • . • • • • • • . •
ILLUSTRATIONS
page
iii
lv
1
Barbara • • • . • •
Tar Mop • .. • • • •
Self-portrait . • •
Ann • • • • • • • •
•
..
Water Bottj_e
..
,. • • • •
7
8
• • • • • •
9
Pat • • • • •
• " •
.-
!'
v
..
• • • • • •
• • • • • "
• • • • • •
• • • •
4
t;
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6
ABSTRACT
PAINTINGS
by
Margaret Juanita Alter
Master of Arts in Art
My objective is to paint in a photo-realistic
style without being narrative.
I have not attempted
to pursue specific contemporary issues or problems.
Instead, I have focused on particular problems
which relate to the act of painting.
I am interested
in the tactile qualities of paint and surfaces, the
shapes produced by light and subtle interpretations
of natural color.
With this emphasis, the images
in my paintings have no meaning other than their
existenc~
and my aes.thetic response to them.
I
carefully study my subject and through painting
reveal its vlsual properties to the viewer.
The
result is an intimate object which is derived from
an impersonal or neutral subject.
By expressing
myself through realism, I maintain the integrity of
the images as they existed naturally.
At the same
time I try to give my subject-matter a new life
1
2
which supercedes or in some way alters the previous
one.
This is my way of creating new dimensions for
the images I have selected.
I use photographs to freeze my subjects.
This
frees me from extraneous impressions. and allows.mt:,
to concentrate on the process of painting.
The
picture can be started anywhere on the canvas that
I choose because my work is built upon small areas
of shape and color.
These areas are blended ·together
to create the illusion of recognizible imagery when
viewed from a distance.
At close range the images
disintegrate into abstract forms of light and color.
This double viewing experience creates an intentional
conflict between the two-dimensional surface qualities
of paint on canvas and the three-dimensional illusion
of objects in space.
I must balance the two by
encouraging an optical exchange that prevents one
from being intrusive on the other.
These problems are resolved through the plastic
means of composition, color and paint application.
Composition is important;
it has to be carefully
structured but relatively simple to complement the
complex network of detail.
and unify the picture.
Color must be harmonlous
I choose one prominent color
in each painting and let it influence all the other
colorso
A smooth and consistent paint surface
contributes to the unification.
A wet into wet
method is used that allows the edges of each separate
color to be blended or "feathered"; this is done
3
uniformly over the entire picture plane.
I hope ·that
my
paintings illuminate a specific
facet of life and broaden to become a stimulant
through which the viewers can contemplate aspects
of their own visual experiences.
4
Barbara
Oil on canvas, 22" x 18"
5
Tar Nop
01 1.l. on canvas, 40 11
X
26"
/
6
Self-portrait
Oil on canvas, 30 11 x
L~7"
l
7
Ann
Oil on Canvas, 18" x 24"
8
Water Bottle
Oil on canvas, 30" x 39 11
9
Pat
Oil on Canvas, 40" x 60"