About the 2013 Artist...

PAINTING BY BEN DAVIS JR.

This year's artwork selection for the Capitola Begonia Festival is from a relatively obscure artist, Ben Davis, Jr. The painting is titled "Once Upon a Blue Begonia Moon", and shows the ever popular and colorful Venetian under the light of the moon and stars. There is even a galaxy in there!

Ben studied architectural and mechanical drawing in high school where he also took one art class. He began oil painting years later, in 2006, while a caregiver for his mother during the last years of her life, completing 8 paintings during that period, then took one year off. Those first paintings were in several shows, all at a coffee house in the Haight, San Francisco. To date he has completed 11 more paintings, 7 of those since moving to Santa Cruz in 2009. He has also done one show here at the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. The majority of his work is on display at Sones Cellars winery on the west side of Santa Cruz.

Ben will be available to sign posters during the Capitola Begonia Festival. We congratulate Ben on his selection.