The Mommas and Papas lyrics for “It Never Rains…” were playin’ in our heads as we pulled on our sweaters and grabbed our umbrellas for springtime in Huntington Beach, CA. The weather was unseasonably cool and rainy, but it was sunshine all around SAM’s new granddaughter, Chelsea, now five-months old. Wonderful visit with SAM’s daughter and son-in-law (and Buster the pug.) Experienced our first earthquake, thankfully far enough from the epicenter in Mexico. Still, for me, a life event. The beaches here are alive with young people, custom and vintage cars, and oil wells pumping away. Show biz is big here too. While I prefer NYC-based Letterman, Jay has a punim that draws itself…
As we all know, a credit default swap (CDS) is a swap contract in which the protection buyer of the CDS makes a series of payments to the protection seller and, in exchange, receives a payoff if a credit instrument (typically a bond or loan) goes into default. (Thanks Wikipedia, for us civilians and anyone who just arrived from planet Zino.) An “image” of a CDS can actually be found on Paul Kedrosky’s Blog (click on the ugly pic on the right.) These are the buggers that enabled some clever folks to make billions as the world economy went into meltdown. Then go read The Big Short and get angry enough to support some real reform of Wall Street.
Now, back to the real world.
From LA’s John Wayne (the nice) Airport, Southwest got us and our luggage “It’s On!” back to BWI. Cherry blossoms and signs of spring are everywhere. Read Dan Pink’s Drive, another big idea, delivered clearly, creatively and for a contemporary audience. He keeps getting better ‘n better. Cowabunga! My Cintiq arrived and I’m in digital graphics heaven.
My portrait teacher, Rick Casali offered a course in portrait sculpture at Maryland hall and I couldn’t wait. The clay I bought was wrong, (water-based,) and my head-armature was “inadequate.” Never-the-less, I was able to join four other students for this two-day workshop. What I learned in this absolutely wonderful course was simply the 3D foundations of what I’ve been been drawing 2D for over 50 years. Drawing and painting is really “seeing” and now I can see so much more under the skin. The structure – bone and cartilage, muscle and fat – not only of the face, but the head and neck – now make so much more sense. We all had fun as well.. Thanks Rick.
We each completed a full-sized clay head. From top, L to R: Our great instructor, Rick, Yupari, Melissa, Susan, Dave, and moi.