Great Grandfather's Church

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Great Grandfather's Church #350

pen ink and graphite on Bristol paper

2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION
202002007

© copyright Mike Kraus

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

LAST DAY!!!

The ONLINE FABULOUS FALL ART SHOW at:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1073060686836397/?active_tab=discussion

It is the place to find and buy amazing art. Browse unique, hand-crafted items in ceramics, jewelry, glass, mixed media, photography, wood, leather, fiber, metal, wearable art, digital, paintings, prints and so much more!

Having Fun During COVID-19

https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/covid-19coronavirus-resources.html

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

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Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

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LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Danube Reflection - Regensburg, Germany

WILLKOMMEN IN REGENSBURG! Megan and Dick having a couple beers at Degginger

Our last stop in the MS Savor

Steinerne Brücke (Old Stone Bridge) was constructed in the 12th century and was the only bridge over the Danube for 800 years. 

To the left is the Amberg Salt Store

Historische Wurstküche (Historic Sausage Kitchen) - Opened in 1146, it's probably the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the world.

Tower at the south end of the Old Stone Bridge.

Turmtheater im Goliathhaus

Goliathhaus was constructed as a palace in the 12th century. Currently, it's being used as a theater and restaurant.

Document Reichstag Tower. It's the old city hall that's been converted into a museum.

Baumburger Turm (Baumburger Tower)- Is a 13th century palace. In Italy, many wealthy citizens built towers like this as fortifications in case of raids. In Regensburg, they took the idea and used it to display their power instead.

Part of Old Town Hall and Old Town Hall Square

Goldener Turn (Golden Tower) - This is another tower palace constructed around 1300. Two stories were added in the 1600s. In 1985, it was restored and turned into a student residence.

Spires of Dom St. Peter (St. Peter's Cathedral) or Regensburger Dom (Regensburg Cathedral) down Kramgasse Street

More shops of Kramgasse Street

Construction of the Cathedral started in the year 700. Completion was in 1520. So, it took over 800 years to build. Remember that the next time your project falls behind schedule...

Neupfarrplatz

Corner of Wahlenstraße and Gesandtenstraße

Neupfarrkirche is a Protestant church constructed in the square after the expulsion of the Jews and removal of the synagogue from the area.

Intersection of Gesandtenstraße and Untere Bachgasse

Strolling Untere Bachgasse Street

Reichsabtei Sankt Emmeram (St. Emmeram's Abbey) was founded as a Benedictine Monastery in 739. In 1812, it was converted into the a palace for the Thurn and Taxis family, which it remains to this day.

Interior of St. Emmeram's

One chill skeleton...

If I remember correctly, this was Napoleon's residence when he was in town. Now, it's the Beatnut's skateboard shop. 

This is why I don't drive in Europe. You can only go 20 kilometers per hour when driving your car into the river...

The next boat we're taking for a river cruise.

Goodbye MS Savor! The crew and staff were all so kind and amazing. We were really, really, really spoiled on this boat. And it was full of so many amazing people.

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

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

Friends of St. Jean Baptiste Church

WELCOME TO THE FRIENDS OF ST. JEAN BAPTISTE CHURCH PAGE! Founded In 1856, St. Jean Baptiste is one of the oldest and most historic churches in west Michigan. Our goal is to save the building from the neglect and the bulldozers that have been the fate of so many other important structures to the community.

We hope you join us in preserving this important icon to Third Street, the Nelson Neighborhood, and the Muskegon Community.

As a part of the efforts, please ask your friends and family to join us. And for fun, post of pics of your memories of St. Jean's. THANKS and please let us know if you need anything, have questions, or any suggestions.

https://www.facebook.com/Friends-of-St-Jean-Baptiste-Church-1628460284140086/

Église de Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans

Église de Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, 2015

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/255757411/eglise-de-saint-pierre-de-lile-dorleans

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

Pierre Roberge and his older brother, oddly enough with the same name, left Caen, France for adventure in the New World.  After crossing the Atlantic and a brief stay at the Séminaire de Québec, the brothers settle on the l'Île-d'Orléans.  It is where Pierre meets his wife, Françoise Loignon, and they pioneer a farm together with of 15 acres, 6 horned beasts, and a gun.  On this wild island in the St. Lawrence River, they had 13 children.  They must have been a motley crew heading to church on Sunday at Église de Saint-Pierre in the late 1600s-early 1700s.  A piece of me comes from Pierre and Françoise as they are my 7th great-grandparents and this church connects me to them.     

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

The Making of Girl with Collie

 Girl with Collie, 2015

acrylic on canvas board

12" x 16" (30.5 cm x 40.6 cm) 
Collection of Seth Michael Rhodes

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/186507940/custom-commission-original-art-by-mike?ref=shop_home_active_1

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

Today, I thought it would be fun to show what goes into making a custom piece of art.

 First, we have to figure out what we're going to paint.  My client requested something "modern, playful, and different" and "with lots of colors."  We discussed subjects and paintings that could serve as inspiration.  After our talks, this was the sketch that was accepted for the final piece.   

 Now I start painting! I laid a cadmium yellow ground to really make the colors pop on this piece.  And I worked it gradually.  Sometimes adding more yellow ground to parts to keep the vibrant glow.  The sun and sky is blended over and over from yellow, pink, purple, light blue, medium blue.  Something that I was inspired from walking home from the ice cream stand.

 Next, I placed the mountains.  A dark blue that I layered several lighter blues on top to get volume.  That was followed by the land.  This inspiration came from a recent trip to the Salvador Dali Museum (http://thedali.org/) in St. Petersburg, Florida.  The colors of the sky are light and airy.  I wanted the land to be heavier.  So, I did the reverse with the colors.  I started with a dark purple and covered the ground.  Then came a light purple, dark pink, and light pink.  Each with a hint of yellow to keep the brightness.  I then added the road, parking lot, and grass.

 Now for the ruins.  Some of the sources of inspiration for the client were Victorian paintings.  While researching for the sketch, I noticed that lots of Victorian landscapes had ruins in them.  The style of the building was inspired from my recent trip to Montreal and Quebec City.  At the art galleries, there were lots of paintings that used black ground with bright bold colors on top.  And there were also lots of traditional old churches.  I thought it'd be appropriate to this piece.  In the foreground is another set of ruins.  I liked the girl and dog in the interior space, but I wanted to include the depth of a landscape.  Since ruins were to be included, I thought this device would be fun.  Similar to the church, it's black ground with a white layer on top.

 I filled in the foreground with color.  I wanted to re-introduce yellow to give it some brightness again.  There's a little brown added to give it shade.  The floor is checker board red.  I wanted to keep adding depth and color.  I also left the original white because it reminded me of the speckled white tile at my school.  And that speckle could be a good way to play with light.

 Then there's the girl and dog.  What is this girl thinking?  What is is the dog looking at?  How did they get into a landscape like this?  I'll let the viewer try to figure that one out.  haha

Added some details.  Some lines in the road and parking lot.  A little touch up work on the church and other areas.  But, that's a completed piece from conception to finish.  THANKS!

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

So a Priest Walks Into Bellhurst Castle...

Bellhurst Castle (http://www.belhurst.com/) on Seneca Lake.  Father Jack had his 50th anniversary of being ordained as a priest.  


For those who don't know Father Jack, he's the priest that married Megan and I.  Here we are dancing at our reception.  It was a great 50th anniversary celebration and we were honored to be invited.


A view of Seneca Lake


Mr. Fussy looks like a teacher I had in high school...


Athena seems to be waiting for 5 o'clock to roll around...


I can't wait for her to try to make this happen when she's 70-80 lbs.



I call this "Still Life of a Future Blog Post."  

That's all I have this week.