Beach In Albufeira, Portugal

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Beach In Albufeira, Portugal

Acrylic paint on canvas board

8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/199209243/beach-in-albufeira-portugal-original

Not too far from Faro on the Algarve coast is the town of Albufeira.  An old fisherman's village turned tourist destination.  Travelers are attracted to the burning sun above the cool waters of the Atlantic Ocean.  It's rare to find an empty beach nestled against the golden sandstone cliffs.  A place to rejuvenate under the rays with a little vinho verde.  

This painting would look best in a space that is blue, light green, light pink, orange, light purple, grey, or sand beige.

Michael Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Children's Memorial Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold hundreds of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Store: MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MikeKrausBlog

Google+: http://plus.google.com/111168390406803022323/posts

The Beach of Antibes, France

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

The Beach of Antibes, France, 2018

acrylic paint on canvas board

8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)

201803051

© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/211971374/the-beach-of-antibes-france-original

After a light breakfast and coffee at a small cafe, we bought a few groceries.  We planned to stay at the Plage de la Gravette beach all day.  Nothing to do but lie in the sun and cool off in the waters.  The sea peacefully rippling over the scorching sand as we enjoyed our assortment of local wine, cheese, and fruits.  The perfect end of the day came when the sun set the sky on fire.  

This painting would look best in a space that is red, yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white, grey, beige, or wood

Michael Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Children's Memorial Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold hundreds of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Store: MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MikeKrausBlog

Google+: http://plus.google.com/111168390406803022323/posts

On the Shores of Toulon, France

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

On the Shores of Toulon, France

acrylic paint on canvas board

8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201803046

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/189688164/on-the-shores-of-toulon-france-original

We toured the Musée du vieux Toulon et de sa région and strolled the nearby neighborhoods until the streets began to fill up with tourists.  We hurried to the Cours Lafayette for the Provençal market to get some fresh food for the day.  There was a cool breeze coming off the Mediterranean that we wanted to take advantage of because of the heat.  In the early afternoon, we found a secluded harbor all our own.  The rest of the day was spend alternating between eating and cooling off in the refreshing sea.

This painting would great in a small space that is red, orange, yellow, dark green, light blue, purple, black, white, grey, beige, or wood.

Michael Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Children's Memorial Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold hundreds of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Store: MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MikeKrausBlog

Google+: http://plus.google.com/111168390406803022323/posts

Rhône River at Avignon

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Rhône River at Avignon

acrylic paint on canvas board

8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201803041

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/232785261/rhone-river-at-avignon-original-acrylic

On the left bank of the Rhône River nestles the city of Avignon.  A slight bend in the river that has been a destination for the Greeks, Romans, Popes, and countless others.  And the Pont d'Avignon (the Pont Saint-Bénézet) is the last of many bridges trying to reach the other side.  Previous attempts have been destroyed in war, ruined by floods, or doomed to failure by poor engineering.  But what it lacks in function, it excels in adding to the beauty of a marvelous city.   

This painting would look best in a space that is red, orange, yellow, green, dark blue, purple, black, white, grey, beige, or wood.

Michael Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Children's Memorial Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold hundreds of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Store: MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MikeKrausBlog

Google+: http://plus.google.com/111168390406803022323/posts

Roman Bridge Outside of Ferreirós do Dão, Portugal

Roman Bridge Outside of Ferreirós do Dão, Portugal, 2017

acrylic paint on canvas

16" x 20" (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm)

201707076

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/243370724/roman-bridge-outside-of-ferreiros-do-dao

Your home is an extension of your personality.  And using original artwork is a great way to show that individuality.  With a little effort, you could greatly enhance your home's status by showcasing original art in your living spaces.  Here's a tip to consider when choosing artwork.

What color piece should I choose?  The answer depends on your space and what you want to accomplish.  Do you want the piece to blend in to the space or do you want it to be the focus and "pop?"  Are the colors in your room bold or light and pastel?  To my patrons, I usually suggest looking at interior design websites, magazines, pinterest, etc. to find places similar to theirs or how they want their spaces to look.  I'll even bring paint swatches from the hardware store to come up with a palette.  And if your house is all beige or gray, something bright and bold maybe what you're looking for.  Or if your walls have a lot of color, a black and white piece may be a stunning addition...  (more at: http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/how-to-use-original-artwork-in-your.html)

This painting would look best in an average sized space.  The suggested wall colors are dark red, orange, yellow, light green, dark blue, light purple, black, white, gray, or beige.

For more information or custom order, please visit:
Etsy: MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MikeKrausBlog

Google+: http://plus.google.com/111168390406803022323/posts

Want to see my work in person?  Then visit these galleries:

Whitman Works Co. 1826 Penfield Rd, Penfield, NY 14526 (585) 747-9999 https://www.whitmanworks.com/

Art Cats Gallery 1845 Lakeshore Dr, Muskegon, MI 49441 (231) 755-7606 http://artcatsgallery.com/

Roman Bridge Outside of Ferreirós do Dão, Portugal

Roman Bridge Outside of Ferreirós do Dão, Portugal, 2017

acrylic on canvas

16" x 20" (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm)

201707073

© copyright Mike Kraus
For more information, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/186507940/custom-commission-original-art-by-mike

Her dad was from Ferreirós do Dão, one of the oldest villages in Portugal at 1,080 years old.  It's history is as solid as the Ponte Romana bridge crossing the Rio Dão.  Her dad grew up in the shadow of the bridge creating some of his fondest memories along its banks.  Recollections he'd later share with his daughter.  So, thinking of her dad on Father's Day, she started looking up pictures of the village of Ferreirós do Dão on the internet.  

While scanning the random images, she came across a small painting and said, "Hey-that's my village..."  Immediately, she contacted me to purchase the piece, which had unfortunately been sold a few years earlier.  That disappointment quickly turned into a wonderful opportunity when she discovered I could offer to do a custom commission piece.  While she liked my original piece, she was excited to be able to have a much large version to fit into her amazing antique frame.  And since she visits the village every other year, I'd be able to use her photographs to adjust the colors and tailor specific details to her memories.  Reflections of her father and his village in Portugal that she can be reminded of every time she see's this special piece in her southern Californian home.   

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Store: MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MikeKrausBlog

Google+: http://plus.google.com/111168390406803022323/posts

Avo' Good Day

Avo' Good Day #236, 2017

gouache paint on bristol paper

NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION

2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm)

201706057

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/534985429/avo-good-day-236-avocado-artist-trading

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

This artist trading card or ACEO (Art Card Editions and Originals) is frameable, collectible, enjoyable and can be given as a special gift for a birthday, wedding, new baby, anniversary, thank you or other occasion.  It is a one-of-a-kind original work of art, NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION. It is signed on the back and lends itself to framing in a standard trading card frame or book.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MikeKrausArt

The Rochester Contemporary Art Center's (RoCo)

6x6x2017

ARTWORK SALE
NOW OPEN UNTIL JULY 16TH!
 137 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14604

See if you can find my piece at:

http://www.roco6x6.org/6x6x2017.php

Danube Reflection - Grein, Austria

WELCOME TO GREIN, AUSTRIA! A small village of about 2,900 people on the Danube River. Grein roughly translates into "shriek" or "scream" in old German. The Danube use to be very treacherous here and the city was named after shipwrecked sailors yelling and their widow's cries. 

Stadttheater Grein. Notice the three dates on the building. 1468 was the year it was constructed as a granery. 1563 is when it became a rathhaus (city hall). 1791 is when it installed a theater. Emperor Josef II encouraged the construction of theaters so the proceeds could be used to fund poor houses. A cause that was really supported by citizens after a major flood. 

Inside Stadttheater Grein, the oldest theater in Austria. Lots of funny and interesting facts about this theater. The first couple of rows had an early form of season ticket holders. To guarantee your seat, you were given a key. When you weren't at the show, you'd fold your seat to the back and lock it so there was no place for a person to sit. 

Shows use to be very, very long. So, there's a small bathroom located stage right for the audience. The only barrier was a small curtain. This meant if an exciting, funny, or climatic scene was about to happen you could peek out the curtain and not miss a thing. "It didn't smell nice near the bathroom, so these seats were cheaper..."

This building also had a small jail that was located stage left. To keep the prisoners entertained, they gnawed a hole in the wall so they could watch from their cell. The audience was very kind to the prisoners bringing them food and drinks during the show. A somewhat selfish gesture though because this was to prevent them from yelling and disrupting the show.

I think this is my favorite theater.

Volksbank Niederösterreich Building 

St. Giles Church - Saint Giles was a hermit living in the woods of Septimania and Provence. He foraged for food and drank the milk from a deer. Because of this, St. Giles is the patron saint of lactating mothers.

Looking toward the Danube from Böhmergasse

View of the Wachau Valley from the Grein cemetery.

View of the Danube from the grounds of Schloss Greinburg

View of old town with mist rising of the mountains in the background.

DANCE PARTY ON THE CRUISE!

And yes, Marianne is to the far left dancing with her tiny hands... YEAH!!!

More vacation posts at:

Vienna, Austria - http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2016/10/danube-reflection-vienna-austria.html

Bratislava, Slovokia - http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2016/10/danube-reflection-bratislava-slovakia.html

Wachau Valley - http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2016/10/danube-reflection-wachau-valley.html

Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic/Linz, Austria -
http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2016/10/danube-reflection-cesky-krumlov-czech.html

Passau, Germany - http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2016/10/danube-reflection-passau-germany.html

Regenburg, Germany - http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2016/10/danube-reflection-regensburg-germany.html

Prague, Czech Republic - http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2016/10/danube-reflection-prague-czech-republic.html

Danube Reflection - The Wachau Valley

WELCOME TO THE WACHAU VALLEY! A region known for its high-quality wines and delightful villages. 


Dürnstein was founded in 1019 AD as "Tirnstein," which means "dry stone." 


Dürnstein is a village of 800+ people living on one street between the castle and the river.


Dürnstein is famous for its wine and the place of imprisonment of King Richard I of England (Richard the Lionheart). Apparently, King Richard went to Acre in the Crusades. While there, he took down Leopold V, Duke of Austria's flag and stepped on it. Obviously, this offended Leopold. So, when Richard was returning from the Holy Lands he had to make a detour through Vienna on his way back to England. Knowing he upset Leopold, he dressed as a common soldier while in the city. But, he was recognized in a bar because he wore a fancy ring. Richard was arrested and shipped down to Dürnstein Castle for his imprisonment. Of course, he was held for a King's Ransom (about 100,000 pounds of silver).


Interesting mural in a pediment.


Stift Dürnstein (Abbey Church of Durnstein) - Constructed in 1410, this was a monastery for monks until 1788. Emperor Joseph II required monasteries to provide schools in exchange for the privilege of having these institutions. The monks refused, were kicked out, and part of it is a school today for 18 local students.

How's this for a grand entrance?


Another grand entrance with the tower in the background.


The Baroque Alter inside the church.


Sankt Quirin (?) Church, which we passed on our bike ride to Krems and back.


Vineyard grapes working hard to become Riesling or Grüner Veltliner wines.


The Wachau Valley has the perfect micro-climate for making dry wines.


Dick biking by one of the many fine wineries.


Vineyards and churches everywhere!


ACHTUNG KINDER!
1) What kind of mischief is this kid up to?
2) Who did a caricature of me as a kid and turned it into a sign?


Wine Tasting in Weissenkirchen


Inez and Marianne with their big glasses of wine.

More vacation blog posts at:
Vienna, Austria - http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2016/10/danube-reflection-vienna-austria.html 

Bratislava, Slovakia - http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2016/10/danube-reflection-bratislava-
slovakia.html

Grein, Austria - http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2016/10/danube-reflection-grein-austria.html

Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic/Linz, Austria -
 http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2016/10/danube-reflection-cesky-krumlov-czech.html

Passau, Germany - http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2016/10/danube-reflection-passau-germany.html

Regenburg, Germany - http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2016/10/danube-reflection-regensburg-germany.html

Prague, Czech Republic - http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2016/10/danube-reflection-prague-czech-republic.html