Chicago Alley

 Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty 

Chicago Alley #429

pen, ink, graphite, colored pencil on Bristol paper

2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 

NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION

202105038

© copyright Mike Kraus

to purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/517997646/chicago-alley-429-artist-trading-cards

The facades are freshly painted with well-manicured lawns and power-washed sidewalks.  Chicago takes pride in their design and architecture.  It's also the city of broad shoulders that understands the backbreaking work of digging itself out of the mud and into a world-class city.  The alley is where all the toil occurs to make life here possible.  Like a grapevine that has to struggle to make the perfect wine, this hidden utilitarian passage is what makes Chicago beautiful.

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 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
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MikeKrausBlog

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Chicago Alley

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

 Chicago Alley

acrylic paint on canvas board

16" x 20" (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm) 
201811125

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/243101275/chicago-alley-original-acrylic-painting

After a long day of work in the Loop, I take the "L" train home.  It's so much better reading a book on public transit than fighting road rage in a traffic jam.  And today I'm just watching all the buildings pass by.  The brown line runs at street level in the alleys after the Western stop.  The alleys are somehow beautifully utilitarian. 

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

More About Mike Kraus Art

Works by Larry Wood​, Larry DeKock​ and I at the Books, ETC. ​ art show

https://www.facebook.com/events/500270760452282/

Graphic Ear Interview on WAYO 104.3 FM
https://www.mixcloud.com/graphic-ear/070518-graphic-ear-with-mike-kraus/

Whitman Works Company​

https://www.whitmanworks.com/art-products?category=Mike+Kraus

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

Chicago Alley

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

 Chicago Alley

acrylic paint on canvas board

16" x 20" (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm) 
201802031

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/243101275/chicago-alley-original-acrylic-painting

After a long day of work in the Loop, I take the "L" train home.  It's so much better reading a book on public transit than fighting road rage in a traffic jam.  And today I'm just watching all the buildings pass by.  The brown line runs at street level in the alleys after the Western stop.  The alleys are somehow beautifully utilitarian. 

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

Chicago Alley

 Chicago Alley #205

gouache and ink on bristol 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/209305918/chicago-alley-205-artist-trading-cards

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

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

FREE SHIPPING IN THE UNITED STATES

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

"Honestly, It Doesn't Look That Good. I'd Take the Salad..."

Here's from my recent images.

Artsy-Farty Limes spilled near oil drum on North Ave. None of this should be here...

They must have run out of tag names or something...

While on my mini-vacation to Schaumburg I saw something in the distance. Something that looks glorious. I could view it from my hotel room. But, what could it be? Sweet Lord, it's Medieval Times!

Welcome to MySpace Megan. May I suggest this as your profile pic?

The last place on earth I should be is the Woodfield Mall two weeks before x-mas. Although, Totally Weddings is a pretty great site. But, I've come to the conclusion that the suburbs are the worst place ever. People move out there to escape reality and responsibility. This means they escape society. This leads to a loss of etiquette for social interaction. Add to that x-mas greed and you'd be safer living in a shark tank.

Screaming babies waiting to see Santa...

Photo Op with Santa.

Heathen masses!

Megan and I finished out trip to Schaumburg with a wine tasting. As many of you know, I'm not a fan of wine. But, there were a couple that I didn't mind. They were the dry white, Franc Cabernet , and Cherry. The only way I'm able to be taken seriously in a place like this is hanging out with Megan since she has enough class for the both of us.

Well, that's about it for now. Just making some loose plans for x-mas and trying to finish up my next 'zine (which is what I should be working on now). Hmmmm....

xoxo,

Mike