Our Paths Will Croissant Again

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Our Paths Will Croissant Again #531

pen, ink, and color pencil on Bristol paper

2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION
202306031

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your collection, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/230945385/our-paths-will-croissant-again-531

What treat can't you resist?

ARTS o’ MAGAZINE:

Culture of Action

https://medium.com/arts-o-magazine/culture-of-action-a54ce2c6209d

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 Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Lurie Children's 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 thousands 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

Grandma's Cupcake

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Grandma's Cupcake #530

pen, ink, and color pencil on Bristol paper

2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION
202306030

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your collection, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/531384469/grandmas-cupcake-530-artist-trading

What reminds you of someone you love?

ARTS o’ MAGAZINE:

What Can We Do About Our Culture?

https://medium.com/p/798f3bf8f1e9

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 Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Lurie Children's 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 thousands 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

Donut Worry About It

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Donut Worry About It

acrylic paint on canvas board

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

202305024

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your home, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/217808258/donut-worry-about-it-original-acrylic

MMMMmmmm...  Sunlight sparkles through the glass display of the old diner.  Dessert for breakfast.  There's nothing like a freshly made fried doughnut with frosting and sprinkles.  The perfect compliment to a cup of coffee.  It's a good place to hangout after the morning rush has ended.    

How do you spoil yourself after a difficult day?  Is it a snack or something more luxurious?  Maybe it's wasting some time on video games?  It's good to take care of ourselves sometimes.

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

IT'S OFFICIAL!  

I've accepted the role of writer for 

ARTS o’ MAGAZINE:  

https://medium.com/arts-o-magazine/beauty-is-a-survival-tool-35c808371ee2

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 Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Lurie Children's 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 thousands 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

Our Paths Will Croissant Again

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Our Paths Will Croissant Again #523

pen, ink, and color pencil on Bristol paper

2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION
202305018

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your collection, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/186507940/custom-commission-original-artwork-by

IT'S OFFICIAL!  

I've accepted the role of writer for 

ARTS o’ MAGAZINE:  

https://medium.com/arts-o-magazine/beauty-is-a-survival-tool-35c808371ee2

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 Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Lurie Children's 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 thousands 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

Look To the Cookie

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Look To the Cookie #514

pen and color pencil on Bristol paper

NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION

2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
202301001

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your collection, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/235107957/look-to-the-cookie-514-artist-trading

Join us for HELLO 2023! A 21-Day Happiness Challenge. We'll start by saying "hi" to each other, tell stories, build relationships, and (most of all) have fun: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10227483127799532&set=gm.533800675434573&idorvanity=305635098251133

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 thousands 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

That's a Piece of Cake

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

That's a Piece of Cake #208

Gouache on Bristol Paper

NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION

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

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your collection, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/209759699/thats-a-piece-of-cake-208-artist-trading

Ingredients

Cake

1 ½ sticks unsalted butter (room temperature)

7 ounces semisweet chocolate (finely chopped)

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

¾ teaspoon fine sea salt

1 ¾ cups sugar

3 eggs (large at room temperature)

1 egg yolk (room temperature)

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 cup buttermilk

Frosting

3 ½ cups pecan halves (14 ounces)

2 sticks unsalted butter (plus 2 tablespoons at room temperature)

28 ounces sweetened condensed milk (about 2 cans)

¾ cup light brown sugar (packed)

5 egg yolks

10 ounces sweetened shredded coconut (about 3 cups)

1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon sea salt

Directions

Make the cake

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter two 9-inch baking pans and line with parchment paper.

Step 2

Use heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Add chopped chocolate and melt, stirring occasionally. Chocolate can be melted in microwave too. Let cool slightly.

Step 3

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl, beat 1 1/2 sticks of butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. One at a time, beat in the eggs, egg yolk, ending with vanilla. At low speed, beat in the buttermilk and flour mixture in 3 alternating batches, ending with the flour mixture. Fold in the melted chocolate till blending.

Step 4

Batter into prepared pans. Bake for 30 minutes or until a cake tester (toothpick) comes out clean. Let cool completely. Turn the cakes out of the pans and remove parchment paper.

Frosting

Step 1

Toast pecans on a rimmed baking sheet for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden. Let cool slightly, then coarsely chop. In a large saucepan, combine butter, condensed milk, and brown sugar and cook over moderately low heat, whisking frequently, until smooth. Add egg yolks and cook over moderately low heat, whisking frequently for about 8 to 10 minutes until thickened. Transfer the frosting to a large bowl and stir in 3 cups of the pecans and the coconut, vanilla and salt; let cool.

Step 2

Using a spoon or offset spatula, spread half of the frosting evenly over one cake. Top with the second cake layer and spread the remaining frosting on top. Garnish with the remaining pecans.

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.

Do you want to make the world a more beautiful place?

JOIN US AT:

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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 thousands 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

Little Cafe In Provence

 Little Cafe In Provence, 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/208369759/little-cafe-in-provence-original-acrylic

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

We spent the morning biking through the countryside.  Passing all the scented fields of lavender and sunflowers.  The bright light of the sun shimmering on the dew of the flowers.  In the early afternoon, we came to a village in need of coffee and baked goods.  We rested our weary legs under the canopy.  Relaxing before we continued our amazing journey.

This painting would look best somewhere that needs a splash of color and compliment a space that is dark red, orange, purple, yellow, green, blue, black, white, beige, or wood.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

Breakfast Selection At the Bakery

Grandpa Jer's Rollin' Cinnamon Rolls #158

Gouache on Watercolor Paper

NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION

2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 

© copyright Mike Kraus 

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/247161253/grandpa-jers-rollin-cinnamon-rolls-158

Heavenly Donut #157

Gouache on Watercolor Paper

NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION

2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 

© copyright Mike Kraus 

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/254556033/heavenly-donut-157-artist-trading-cards

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

This artist trading card or ACEO (Art Card Editions & 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.

FREE SHIPPING IN THE UNITED STATES

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

Heavenly Donut

Heavenly Donut, 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/195430291/heavenly-donut-original-acrylic-painting

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

MMMMmmmm...  Dessert for breakfast.  There's nothing like a freshly made fried doughnut with frosting and sprinkles from the bakery.  The perfect compliment to a cup of coffee.  Sunlight sparkles through the glass on the chrome of the old diner.  It's a good place to hangout after the morning rush has ended.    

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

Small Fish In A Small Pond

Tachel and I posing for our x-mas card



Megan and Tachel looking a bit more beautiful



Megan and I at the Public Market getting our Petrillo's Bakery http://petrillosbakery.com/  pizza crust fix.  The public market has been one of the best reasons we've moved to Rochester from Chicago.  One thing that is strange about Rochester is all pizza is really expensive.  Considerably more than in Chicago.  Not sure why and if anyone has any ideas I'd like to hear it.  Anyway, lots of great stuff here and you should go if you get the chance



pomegranates!!!



Homemade knitted caps.  LAST DAY at the public market.  GET IT OR FORGET IT!



In what has become a x-mas tradition, Peter, Sarah, Megan, and I go to the Screening Room www.screeningroom.net  in Amherst, NY (just outside of Buffalo) to see It's a Wonderful Life on the big screen.  I wanted coffee at some point during the movie, instead Megan got me Seagram's Escapes Strawberry Daiquiri.  Nice...  It's considered a "flavored beer" and tasted like old Kool-Aid.  



Oh!  Megan got Chex Mix for Christmas.  And, that is it...



THANKS TO PETE AND SARAH!!!  IT HAS BEGUN!!!  They got me a book for x-mas called Take a Hike! by Rich and Sue Freeman about all the parks and hiking spots in the Rochester area.  This is Tryon Park (East of I-590 at Tryon Park Road in Rochester).  



Here's one of the many hills around town.  Notice that the trail has a steep slope on both sides.  I didn't realize western New York was geologically so crazy.  Lots of flat land that has been gouged by glaciers making lots of strange hills and waterfalls.



A view of Irondequoit Bay.



This is the second park I've been to that use to be an old sewer plant location before it was converted into a park in 1971 (Linear Park being the other).  No doubt, it was before the EPA and raw sewage was probably dumped into the Irondequoit.  This pipe is one of the few reminders of the past.  






That's about it.  Now that the holiday season is finally over, it's time to get back to hardcore job hunting and learning about my new home.  For x-mas, Megan got me a ticket package to the Rochester Americans ("Amerks" for short) hockey.  They are a part of the American Hockey League and affiliate of the Florida Panthers.  So, don't be surprised to see pics of us in Amerk's shirts, with hot dogs, banging on the glass, and chanting "HIT HIM! HIT HIM" in the near future...

He Use To Be Just "Mike," But Now He's "Uncle Mike."

Tachel had Veteran's Day off, but her parents did not.  So, Megan and I got to play with her all day long.



What child doesn't like going to the public market?  



Judging from the sunlight, this is Baby Jesus' Food Stand.  The sun was really bright.  So bright that I heard a few people complain throughout the day that it was too sunny.  I'll check in with them again in February



Best deal in town and another reason to seriously preserve Monroe County's agricultural and open spaces.






Every tooth you see in this picture is loose.  



This photograph was commissioned by Tachel.  It was requested repeatedly that I take this image (no, not like that.  Get closer), so her dad can "see that there is purple food."  So, Rich there is purple food.


 
Little legs get tired of walking and cold ankles need hand warmers...



Going to town on a muffin at Union Bakery where we bumped into Erin.  This place was pretty awesome.  Affordable prices and just a barebones building.  Just my style.  



CANSTRUCTION CHICAGO!  Sorry, I mean CANstruction Rochester?  Indeed!  As many of you know, Megan use to put this event on in Chicago and discovered they did it in Rochester as well.  So, we went down to the Bausch and Lomb Building to check it out.  As you can see, this is a birthday cupcake.  The flame is a bag of Flamin' Cheetos



The Wizard of Oz



Candle



So, I took the previous pic and Tachel yelled out "WAIT!  I'M NOT IN IT!!!"  It was at this point I realized that I am officially the "artist" and she is the "muse."



CANstruction site



Tachel hanging out with the guy coming out of the manhole



Downtown Rochester.  You see the Genesee River with the city skyline.  That's a semi truck crossing the bridge



A sea turtle



Tachel and the crashed UFO



A Flour Mill that made early Rochester famous



If there's anything Uncle Mike has, it's drawing supplies...



"Aunt Meg, what do you eat if you don't have any food?"  After the taco and ziti incidents, we chose our battles and went to Burger King.  



Ellison Park off Blossom Road.  You'll see a bit of this later on.



On a bathroom run to a nearby gas station (because they locked the bathrooms at the park), I found disturbing candy made in the USA.  



Uncle Mike using is art degree once again



It was a fun day with Tachel.  Unfortunately, it really wore out Megan because she had two kids to take care off all day and only one gets to go home to her parents at the end of the day...



Back at Ellison Park, which is just down the street from our apartment.  They have historic markers on everything around here.  This is for Indian Landing, "the most important place in the early history of Genesee Country."



This is a 1938 replica of Schuyler's Trading Post/Fort.  The original was from 1721 built by the British Captain Peter Schuyler, Jr. to encourage trade with the Iroquois Native American tribe. 



Stairs to nowhere in the park.  It's only a guess, but I think it's probably from a resort from the late 1800s, early 20th century that was taken over and turned into a park because church folk didn't like all the drinking and fun being had on Sundays.  That, or to a mansion Frank Ellison may have of had on the property or something.  Further investigation is needed...



Out in the middle of nowhere were about 30+ dogs and their owners running, barking, swimming, and all.  It was pretty random.



As I said previously, Megan's dad gave us tickets to the Detroit Lions (2-7) vs. the Buffalo Bills (1-8).  We had a couple of other tickets that we couldn't give away.  It was good to see the Bills win a game (the first time I've ever seen that happen live) and for the Lions to protect their 0-16 perfect season from being reached by another team...


  
Bills holding QB tryouts for the 2011 season at their practice facility...



Conklin's Tailgating Bar and Grill



 Megan with the family before the game



Heading into Ralph Wilson Stadium



These teams were so terrible that I yelled at both of them.  They are infuriating.  The dumb penalties.  The absolute lack of defense.  Poor call playing.  Timeouts at the most ridiculous times.  At moments, it was like each team was trying to lose on purpose.  Loser Bowl 2010 was everything I expected it to be!!!