Easter Dog

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Easter Dog

acrylic paint on canvas

5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)
201806076

© copyright Mike Kraus

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

LET'S CREATE YOUR VERY OWN PAINTING TOGETHER! Your cherished memory or idea can be made into a work of art. Whether you want to remember a special day or give something to a caring friend; we can work together to create something unique. Invest in yourself and the arts with a special vision to color your walls.

More About Mike Kraus Art

See me at KettleFest at Kettle Ridge Farm on September 15th:

https://www.facebook.com/events/363843977488486/

Boston Voyager Magazine Interview

http://bostonvoyager.com/interview/check-mike-krauss-artwork/

Join my 540WMain Community Learning Academy workshop "How To Become A Professional Artist

https://www.facebook.com/events/308616739898516

Graphic Ear Interview on WAYO 104.3 FM​ Rochester at:

https://www.mixcloud.com/graphic-ear/070518-graphic-ear-with-mike-kraus/

Mike 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

Summer Woods

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Summer Woods

 acrylic paint on canvas board

18" x 24" (45.7 cm x 61.0 cm) 
201808110

© copyright Mike Kraus

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

LET'S CREATE YOUR VERY OWN PAINTING TOGETHER! Your cherished memory or idea can be made into a work of art. Whether you want to remember a special day or give something to a caring friend; we can work together to create something unique. Invest in yourself and the arts with a special vision to color your walls.

More About Mike Kraus Art

See me at KettleFest at Kettle Ridge Farm on September 15th:

https://www.facebook.com/events/363843977488486/

Boston Voyager Magazine Interview

http://bostonvoyager.com/interview/check-mike-krauss-artwork/

Join my 540WMain Community Learning Academy workshop "How To Become A Professional Artist

https://www.facebook.com/events/308616739898516

Graphic Ear Interview on WAYO 104.3 FM​ Rochester at:

https://www.mixcloud.com/graphic-ear/070518-graphic-ear-with-mike-kraus/

Mike 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

Meet Dave Jr...

This is my most recent office buddy.  His name is Dock and he has a cold.  Named Dock because he was found on a loading Dock or something like that.  



He also does not appreciate when I wake him up for this nonsense



Also, meet Dave's new dog Stella.  She's a pit bull mix that is about 7 months old.  Pretty laid back.  Likes to sleep.



At the Corn Hill Art Festival in downtown Rochester.  Pretty cool art fair.  It reminded me a lot of the art fair in Old Town Chicago.  



"Got Ghosts?" is probably my favorite vendor.  Probably because I hope we buy a haunted house where the spirit does the dishes...









The strawberry "smoothie" was more of a "slurpee" since it was all ice.  But, it was so hot that I think I preferred the ice.



Megan is incognito so she doesn't get swarmed from all her adoring fans.



Music at the gazebo.  It never ceases to amaze me that people say they prefer to live in the suburbs to the city.  A nice park with a gazebo.  Activities.  Walkable.  So on and so forth.  You can tell I was spoiled by Chicago...



Finally, Rochester native Abby Wambach.  Well, maybe in a few years.  Rachel had her first soccer game and I have to say that she plays a really aggressive defense.  Go Cougars!


Not too much planned for the next week.  Just going to the final installment of Harry Potter on IMAX.  It's been pretty much the only movies I've seen on the big screen for the last decade.  Anyway... 

Rose In a Box

Rose Dandan. Featured artist in the window at Uncle Fun's on Belmont on August 28th. Please be her friend on Facebook at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chicago-IL/One-of-a-kind-Artwork-by-Rose-Dandan/103068436405451?ref=ts

or purchase at Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/DandanArt

Uncle Fun's at 1338 W. Belmont in Chicago for those who have no idea what they are missing!

MEGAN CAN'T BELIEVE HOW GREAT ROSE'S ARTWORK IS! Again, please join Rose's Facebook at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chicago-IL/One-of-a-kind-Artwork-by-Rose-Dandan/103068436405451?ref=ts

or purchase at Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/DandanArt

Children's Memorial Hospital employee picnic. Can you believe I resigned from this place? Tons of food and fun all the time? And, during the worse economic calamity since the Great Depression? What an idiot...

Balloon animals. Nice

Bucktown Art Festival at the worst named park ever. Senior Citizen Memorial Park. Really? It's a park to memorialize dead old people in general?

A really nice art fair in general though

Frank's N Dawg at 1863 N. Clybourn in Chicago.

Megan had the Lamb Keema hot dog with lamb, English peas, cucumber salad, pearl onions and socca. Very good

The Southerner! It was great and for a great cause. Some of the proceeds go to Children's Memorial Hospital when purchased. This is not your typical hot dog stand. It's very gourmet and the prices reflect that. It's about $8-9 per dog. But, the many of the sausages are homemade and the toppings and bun are incredible. Check out their website at: http://www.franksndawgs.com/

That's about it. Megan got the ol' moving truck ordered and stuff like window ac unit, couch, rug, nightstand, bookshelves are going on Craigslist. There's also a bunch of books, clothes, more candles than you can imagine, and other items up for grabs. Let me know if you are looking for something and I'll send a photo or whatever.

The Point Of No Return... Or of Return? What Are We Doing Again?

My neighbor Blago in street graffiti dancin' like a fool!

The Gold Coast Art Fair, which ironically isn't even in the Gold Coast.

Free and, in this economy means, crowded

Buckingham Fountain will always remind me of meeting a Czech couple in the middle of nowhere Portugal saying to us in broken English, "Oh Chicago. My favorite show is Married With Children."

Paris on the Prairie

big sail boat in Burnham Harbor

Megan's family calls these style of boats "Rodney Dangerfield's" because of his classic scene in Caddyshack. I have to say, it's pretty appropriate.

The Wrigley Building from the Riverwalk

It may look pretty, but there is no way you are going to get me that close to the Chicago River's water in a kayak

Hard Rock Hotel (Carbon and Carbide Buidling)

Megan enjoying her giant burger and giant fries at Five Guys

Strange architecture in Lincoln Park. Here are two apparent single family homes. They weren't big enough and so a strange tower addition was constructed to combine the both. It's like a Victorian McMansion Medieval castle house...

AIA Chicago gave this frame and artwork to us for our wedding. It's titled "He Was a Friend of Mine." Ok, so there's a dog made of clouds. A sinister cat. We're they friends? Is this title sarcastic? What evil things has this cat done? What is going on?

Summer Is Official

Hey all,

Here's another fine installment of what I've been up to...

Wednesday Night BBQ. The newest tradition of the Michigan Exiles.


Apparently, these guys are inspecting the Art Institute's Lion's ass. Actually, they are filming something. Probably some tourist ad or something.


The Museum of Science and Industry. They hosted the CANstruction event, which is a charity fundraiser for the Chicago Food Depository where they make art out of food cans and then use them for making meals.


This should have been the first place winner. Instead it was a replica of the Millennium Park Bean which was small and not well built because it was about to collapse. I'll never understand the dynamics of voting and how poor contestants seem to always win.


This is should have been the second place winner!


The MSI's entry.


Eh...


Big tough truck. The winners of this competition go to some national competition. I know nothing other than that. This site has a lot of winners from the past:
CANstruction Winners


This was my favorite part of the night! These are the back offices to MSI. Look at this office! I am really missing out on my calling. Where do I apply for a job at this place?


Who else has a green cow at their office?


I claim this desk as mine!


The German-American MayFest. It really wasn't that great this year. Unfortunately, the Cubs had a home game that day. Cubs fans in recent years have become the biggest douchebags on earth. After the game, they all came up and kind of ruined the atmosphere. Then again, the $10 cup of Pabst Blue Ribbon didn't help. Even if it was the equivelent of 2.5-3 beers, it was $6-7 more than I pay for PBR at a local bar...


John and Ronan arguing the merits of a girls ass.


John getting Megan's opinion.


The debate continues.


The highlight of the evening was heading to Chubby Wiener's for dinner, which is just south of Lawrence on Western. I highly suggest it. Here's our late night picnic.


John on the #49


Hyde Park Art Fair


We weren't going to go to the fair because it was suppose to rain. Then Amanda called and said she was going. Then we thought we should go after watching Children of Men (good movie). Then it really rained hard going back home. It was alright.

Good times in Chicago.

xoxo,

Mike