Icy Shore of the St. Lawrence River

 Icy Shore of the St. Lawrence River, 2017

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/239624926/icy-shore-of-the-st-lawrence-river

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

It's a chilly morning and I make sure my coffee is very hot before going outside.  My wife stays cozy next to the fire in the 1,000 Islands Harbor Hotel as I explore the snowy shore.  I look out toward Pine Island as the ice collects and builds on the gentle current.  Grindstone Island, which seems so massive on a sunny day, almost seems to disappear in weather like this.  A flock of ducks flee Picton Island and huddle in a spot on Round Island trying to stay warm.  And that's what I'll do too.  Head back into the hotel to relax by the fire with a fresh cup of coffee.

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

Artist Forum: Winter Woods Inspiration

 Question: How do you decide what to paint?

This is something I've been asked a lot recently.  And I thought I'd share some of my thoughts as it's something every artist struggles with at some point.  

For my example, I will use my Winter Woods painting, which is posted in this blog.  This is a series I started a few years ago.  The dog was restless and I brought her outside to play for a little bit.  While she was running around, I thought the fresh snow was beautiful.  It was so fresh and powdery on the ground, the light coating floating on the branches, and the sun making everything shimmer.  That was the inspiration.

I went back to my studio and started sketching.  For me, it's all about finding the right balance.  I don't want something too realistic, otherwise I'd just use my camera.  But, if it's too abstracted, it tends to lose it's connection to our senses.  So, I try to find that place between the real and the abstracted that brings out the emotions of a piece.  The first piece that came out was a very simple gouache design on a greeting card.  It was a flat blue sky, multi-layers of white snow, dark brown trees with snow on each branch.

For me, that is just the start.  I read a Matisse quote that it took him 50 times painting a subject before he considered a piece "good."  That stuck in my head and, for me, that really is true.  When I complete a piece, it goes on my wall or somewhere that I will see it frequently.  I want to see it often and think, "I like that part, I wish I did that differently, and I will add that next time."  What I want to do is push each piece further toward my vision.  So, the Winter Woods piece evolved.  The hills of snow became less exaggerated.  The sky was amplified by various shades of blue.  I stagger the trees more to give it depth and a pattern like notes on a music sheet.  And finally, the trunks and branches are a mixture of black, brown, and metallic paint to give it shape and excitement.  Just like the previous pieces, this will be on my wall and I will think of ways to push this piece further next time.  And when I'm out of ideas then the series is complete.

But, I'm never our of ideas.  I have a list of 41 paintings I'd like to do.  Where do these ideas come from?  Everywhere.  They come from my patrons requesting commissions.  Maybe a discussion with a fellow artist.  A suggestion from a gallery owner.  Seeing something in a museum.  Maybe a random object caught my eye on TV.  To keep track of all this inspiration, I make a list and sketches so I'm always busy painting.

I hope this is helpful.  And please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to discuss something.    

Winter Woods, 2017

acrylic paint on canvas

18" x 24" (45.7 cm x 61.0 cm)

© copyright Mike Kraus 

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/233691635/winter-woods-original-acrylic-painting

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

It's a chilly late afternoon in the forest.  The snow glows on the creaking branches of the trees.  All I hear is the crunching of my boots down the icy path.  This is the season of hibernation.  A time of reflection and calm.

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

Winter Woods

Winter Woods, 2016

Acrylic 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/233691635/winter-woods-original-acrylic-painting-8

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

It's a chilly late afternoon in the forest.  The snow glows on the creaking branches of the trees.  All I hear is the crunching of my boots down the icy path.  This is the season of hibernation.  A time of reflection and calm.

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

Winter Woods

Winter Woods, 2016

Acrylic on Canvas

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

© copyright Mike Kraus 
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/207839524/winter-woods-original-acrylic-painting-8

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

It's a chilly late afternoon in the forest.  The snow glows on the creaking branches of the trees.  All I hear is the crunching of my boots down the icy path.  This is the season of hibernation.  A time of reflection and calm.

This painting would look best in a space that is green, red, yellow, dark blue, light blue, orange, violet, purple, green, brown  beige, or on wood.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

Winter Woods

Winter Woods, 2016

Acrylic on Canvas

16" x 20 (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm)

© copyright Mike Kraus 
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/268850899/winter-woods-original-acrylic-painting

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

It's a chilly late afternoon in the forest.  The snow glows on the creaking branches of the trees.  All I hear is the crunching of my boots down the icy path.  This is the season of hibernation.  A time of reflection and calm.

This painting would look best in a space that is green, red, yellow, dark blue, light blue, orange, violet, purple, green, brown  beige, or on wood.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

My snowy inspiration.  Several hours of shoveling and this is as far as I could get.  

At least there's a path to the house now...

When is Erin coming home?

True love

Winter Woods

Winter Woods, 2016

Acrylic on Canvas

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

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/207839524/winter-woods-original-acrylic-painting-8

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

It's a chilly late afternoon in the forest.  The snow glows on the creaking branches of the trees.  All I hear is the crunching of my boots down the icy path.  This is the season of hibernation.  A time of reflection and calm.

This painting would look best in a space that is green, red, yellow, dark blue, light blue, orange, violet, purple, green, brown  beige, or on wood.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

Winter Woods

Winter Woods, 2015 

Acrylic on Canvas

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

© copyright Mike Kraus 

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/207839524/winter-woods-original-acrylic-painting-8

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

It's a chilly late afternoon in the forest.  The snow glows on the creaking branches of the trees.  All I hear is the crunching of my boots down the icy path.  This is the season of hibernation.  A time of reflection and calm.

This painting would look best in a space that is green, red, yellow, dark blue, light blue, orange, violet, purple, green, brown  beige, or on wood.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

Winter Woods

Winter Woods, 2014 

Acrylic on Strathmore on 140lb (36 kg) cold press postcard 

NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION

4" x 6" (10.2 cm x 15.2 cm) 

© copyright Mike Kraus 

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/207839524/winter-woods-original-acrylic-postcard-4?

10% OFF with coupon code: JOINtheFUN

It's a chilly late afternoon in the forest.  The snow glows on the creaking branches of the trees.  All I hear is the crunching of my boots down the icy path.  This is the season of hibernation.  A time of reflection and calm.

This contemporary original acrylic card is frameable, collectable, enjoyable and can be given for a special gift for a birthday, wedding, new baby, anniversary, thank you or other occasion.  This greeting card 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 4" x 6" frame.

Due to each artwork being original, art cards are sold individually.  FREE SHIPPING IN THE UNITED STATES

This painting would look best in a space that is green, red, dark blue, orange, violet, purple, green, brown  beige, or on wood.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

Puppy Torture [VIDEO]

Thanks to Katie and Vern, Scout now has a pair of socks to wear around the house.  I'm pretty sure she has a more extensive wardrobe than I do now.

Video of Megan and I making Scout run around the house in her socks.

At least you always know how she feels...

action shot 

All she's missing is an elf hat (Katie, don't buy her an elf hat...) 

Please stop. 

[Mike] How ya doin', Scout?
[Scout] If this is what it's gonna be like with you bein' home all da time, ya need ta get another job.
[Mike] Aren't ya havin' fun?

[Scout] Don't push it.  I know where ya sleep...

Added another eight inches of snow the other day.  Started off with a nice ice storm for a good base.  It ended up being the heaviest snow I've ever shoveled.

 Pine trees are pretty weighed down.

With the ice, the snow really grips all the trees and bushes.  Thankfully, it's been nice for the last few days and this has been melting pretty quickly.  We've had about 112 inches of snow this winter, which is only about 18 inches more than average.  Ready for spring...

 More canvases on the assembly line.  If you haven't noticed yet, I've started my own Etsy page.  If you are on Etsy, I'd appreciate if you "favorite" my shop and follow me.  I'll return the favor.  Any suggestions would be appreciated as well.  Please visit at:

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

 My new boss reviewing my work.  "This is nice, but I'd prefer more treats."

Even the daffodils are a little too eager for spring.

That's about it for now.  Been pretty busy lately.  THANKS AGAIN and please let me know if you need anything!