Chalk pastel on Canson watercolor paper approximately 8×10″
Not long ago a neighbor talking to The Husband and me uttered the phrase “right on”.
What? I had not heard that phrase used in regular conversation since the 70’s. And then I heard it again. And again. And again. From different people. Is “right on” a thing now? Has it returned?
I immediately thought of that classic anti-war song by Arlo Guthrie where he sings “you can get anything you want at Alice’s Restaurant” at the draft board:
“You know, if one person, just one person, (says) it, they may think he’s really sick and they won’t take him.
And if two people do it, in harmony, they may think they’re both f*****s and they won’t take either of them.
And if three people do it! Can you imagine three people walkin’ in, singin’ a bar of “Alice’s Restaurant” and walkin’ out? They may think it’s an Organization!”…
Now I’m not saying that “right on” is an anti-war phrase like “you can get anything you want at Alice’s Restaurant”. I’m asking, if you hear a phrase you haven’t heard since the 70’s more than 3 times is it now a thing?
Or do I have too much time on my hands? Ok don’t answer that.
Cathyann Burgess, a former virtual blog friend and now a real friend invited me to her home for a pastel lesson with 3 others. Not having any pastel supplies Cathyann generously let me use hers. The above painting was the result of the day using a reference supplied by Cathyann. As I was leaving her house I was asked by the other students, “did you like using pastels?” I replied that I thought Cathyann was like a drug dealer. The first one was “free” and now I’ll be off at Cheap Joes buying whatever pastels I can get my hands on. I loved it. Messy, but I loved it. Right On baby. RIGHT ON!
36 comments
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February 7, 2016 at 1:46 pm
northpenninegallery
Lovely Carol
February 7, 2016 at 1:50 pm
Susan Feniak
Beautiful! I can tell you enjoyed yourself.
February 7, 2016 at 1:54 pm
jotsfromasmallapt
I think I love you….(that would be in a good way).
February 7, 2016 at 2:00 pm
tomsimard
The first one was free…Hope to see more and more now that you’ve found your dealer.
I’d think if you hear it more than 3 times it’s got to be a thing. I’ve not as yet heard it but will certainly keep my ears perked up for it. Who knows before we know it we may be hearing “groovy” and “far out.”
February 7, 2016 at 2:16 pm
Carrington
Right on!
February 7, 2016 at 2:16 pm
Carol King
Keith, thank you.
Susan, was it that obvious? I guess that’s a good thing
Faye, LOL Thanks!
Tom, I look forward to working with pastels again, But boy are they messy.
Carrington, groovy, man!
February 7, 2016 at 2:47 pm
Jana Bouc
Glad that though the scenery has changed and is no longer NYC, Carol hasn’t changed…except to be a stronger, more accomplished artist! Beautiful work!
February 7, 2016 at 3:56 pm
outsideauthority
Great post. Has made me smile on a sunday night
February 7, 2016 at 6:01 pm
Suzanne
Brilliant.
Sent from my iPod
February 7, 2016 at 8:36 pm
memadtwo
I haven’t been hearing “right on” but “far out”…it’s a speech revival I guess.
Nice drawing. Peaceful. (K)
February 7, 2016 at 9:22 pm
Jodi
Right on! 🙂
February 7, 2016 at 10:39 pm
Mary
Well now Carol – RIGHT ON with the day of painting with softies!! and having a great time. Love your painting!
February 8, 2016 at 1:08 am
kk2n777
Nice drawing/painting. You have a nice eye with color and the strokes are so mature I cannot believe it was your first work with pastels.
February 8, 2016 at 3:23 am
Rebecca
This is just fab – gorgeous vibrant colours, and lovely composition. No wonder you’ve caught the bug!
February 8, 2016 at 6:16 am
nicsearth
Your pastel is lovely, such a different scene from your New York cityscapes! Can’t get to grips with pastels at all but I do love how they look. I love that people are saying right on! Is it a north carolina thing? I watched the history of the eagles documentary recently, my all time favorite band and I am sure I was absolutely born too late. I’d love to have been a hippie in the late 60s early 70s!
February 8, 2016 at 6:47 am
anne farmer
Love the chat and the picture! Remember when the opposite of ‘cool’ was ‘square’? It never came back even though ‘cool’ re-emerged and just keeps going.
February 8, 2016 at 6:55 am
Kathryn Appelbaum
Very nice!!
February 8, 2016 at 6:59 am
Kathryn
Carol, I’ve recently started using pastels too:) Check out Ellen Eagles book, it’s helped me.
February 8, 2016 at 8:28 am
Michael Richards (certainline)
Groovy!
February 8, 2016 at 9:00 am
Cathyann Burgess
Love this post Carol, it made me giggle out loud!
I am glad that you enjoyed the class!
… Wow…like a drug dealer? Right on! Never thought of it that way!!!haha but ya know…it does get addictive, as you saw with the mounds of boxes of Terry Ludwigs I have!
February 8, 2016 at 10:06 am
RHCarpenter
Well, all right all right all right!! You definitely have to get some pastels, girl!!
February 8, 2016 at 11:57 am
Stu-ttg-art
Carol, You got it right on with the drug analogy. I loved pastels when I started using them. So vibrant, so intense! But, alas!, as they are so much of a mess (at least the dry ones), I’ve given up (especially transporting and storing any “finished” works was a chore). Do me a father, try the oil pastels and let me know if they are better.
February 8, 2016 at 9:45 pm
jimmyboi2
BEAUTIFUL! Would make a great needlepoint canvas. Spot on!
February 9, 2016 at 4:39 pm
joantav
I must say I haven’t heard the expression “right on” in a very long time. I don’t think it has made a comeback here. lol I think letting an artist “try” a new material usually ends up with a trip to the art store. This came out nice! I always thought pastels and charcoal were just too messy for me. I tend to put my hand into everything while I’m painting.
February 9, 2016 at 7:50 pm
Right On! and a pastel for good measure | Lavender Turquois
[…] Source: Right On! and a pastel for good measure […]
February 11, 2016 at 9:38 am
Inese Poga Art plus Life
Nice first pastel! I love pastels, but hate the sound when they touch paper and don’t like the dust. Otherwise, pastels are easy to control and effects are great. You could try using a watercolor wash underneath, that sort of sets up the scenery and that way you know where you really want to add what. There are also pastel grounds, so that technically allows using pastels on any thicker paper, not only the extremely expensive pastel paper.
Your artistic stuff can be attributed to right on for sure. Loved your contemplation about this phrase. Such a great sense of humor.
February 11, 2016 at 7:18 pm
Lifesastitch
Maybe it’s a regional expression, more so than in NY? Come to think of it, I’ve heard some of the young folk here saying it, particularly one from Georgia.
I wish I liked how pastels feel in the hand. I do have pastel pencils, so that helps.
Yay Cheap Joe’s! Is still a vacation destination for me.
February 12, 2016 at 4:31 am
June Malone
You are too funny Carol, I love reading your posts almost as much as I enjoy looking at your work. This is such a vibrant picture – hard to believe it’s your first attempt – especially like the purples and the bright yellow. I received some pastel pencils for Christmas and have been slightly nervous of using them but now you’ve inspired me.
February 14, 2016 at 10:08 pm
ruthsartwork
Lovely drawing. You’ll enjoy using the hard pastels. Did you use a fixative? I spray mine with a gloss one and I love how it pops the colors.
February 17, 2016 at 6:32 am
rosjenke
I love your pastel painting and I love your humour. I have a beautiful set of pastels sitting waiting to be used again for when I get around to plein air again one day. They are messy but I used baby wipes to clean my fingers.
February 19, 2016 at 3:23 pm
lesliepaints
Wow! Your pastel painting shimmers! Love the colors and the energy, Carol!
February 23, 2016 at 9:09 am
Padmaja
Glad you found a new medium that interests you, this is nice! Look forward to more with pastels, hope your hand is back to normal.
February 27, 2016 at 10:51 am
napabelle
What wonderful energy in this piece! I love your strokes. Also the intense purple works very well with the color in the foreground! Fantastic!
March 1, 2016 at 9:42 pm
MAGNY TJELTA
Lovely
March 11, 2016 at 3:53 pm
kateosborne
Lovely work
April 29, 2017 at 2:57 am
Sketchuniverse
Reblogged this on sketchuniverse and commented:
HI SISTERS ! CAROL IS AN OLD FRIEND KNOWN OF THIS BLOG. A GREAT ARTIST THAT ALWAYS SURPRISES WITH HER WORKS