Reza Arabnia Portrait

The image you see above is of Reza Arabnia, a native of Iran, CEO of Geico S.p.A. (an innovator in the automotive painting industry), and alumni of the University of San Diego.

This charcoal on paper illustration was done for USD Magazine a few weeks ago.

As an artist (and a perfectionist), I am endlessly analyzing my work, trying to figure out what's good about it, what's bad about it, and how I can make it better. One thing I always aspire to is a confident stroke.

Confidence shines through. Like in people, confidence in art is an attractive quality. When I see a piece of art where every stroke owns its place on the canvas, like there is no other conceivable place in the world it belongs, I am mesmerized. I want to know what the artist was thinking as he or she laid that stroke. I want to sense the pressure of the finger that produced that smudge. I want to feel what they were feeling. A confident stroke fills the art with life. I am drawn to art that takes me on a journey, visually and emotionally. If I'm committing to that journey, the art should leave me better for having taken it. Confidence is like the fuel that powers that journey, and lets me know I'm in good hands.

A timid stroke doesn't burst with life. And, what's the point of lifeless art?

Jason Campbell

On November 3, 2008, the Pittsburgh Steelers will play the Washington Redskins, at FedEx Field in Hyattsville, Maryland -- a home game for the Redskins. Why in the world does this matter, you might be asking? Why, it's a well-known fact that the outcome of the Redskins' last home game, prior to election day, has correctly predicted the outcome of every presidential election since 1936, with the lone exception of 2004.

If Washington won, the incumbent party remained in office. If the visiting team prevailed, the opposing party took the election.

Of course, this means the nation will be watching November 3rd, with bated breath and maybe terrible towels, to see who will be taking the oath.

It just so happens I have an image to commemorate the event.

Jason Campbell, of the Redskins, is one of the players in the 2008 NFL Heroes football card series, by the Upper Deck Company. He is also one of the players I illustrated for this series.

What is also interesting about this piece is that it ushered in another first for me.

Every so often, I do a Google search for myself, just to make sure my work isn't being infringed upon. While searching I happened upon this link.

To my knowledge, it's the first time my name or my work has appeared on Ebay. But, the disturbing part of that page is that my card is the cheapest of the lot! Ah well. At least they spelled my name correctly.