Will You Be My Valentine?

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Valentine's Day is coming!

Love is in the air.  And a manufactured gift is meaningless.  But, a piece of handmade original art is personal, intimate, full of energy, and a great way to say "I love you."  Find your crush at: MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Your Friend,
Mike Kraus

Winter Woods

https://www.etsy.com/listing/207839524/winter-woods-original-acrylic-painting-8

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
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MikeKrausBlog

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Sunset Sherbert Birch Forest

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Sunset Sherbert Birch Forest

acrylic paint and ink on canvas board

8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201902017

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/621204953/sunset-sherbert-birch-forest-original

I count my breaths as I enter the woods.  It calms my thoughts and helps me to relax.  The chaos and cravings of the world evaporate with every step.  If you're fortunate enough to find the mysterious pass, then you enter into paradise.  This is the magic of the forest.

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

More About Mike Kraus Art

Graphic Ear Interview on WAYO 104.3 FM

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

Sunflowers In Provence France

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Sunflowers In Provence France

acrylic paint on canvas board

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

201902016

© copyright Michael Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/667672148/sunflowers-in-provence-france-original

We take our time leaving Avignon.  We sit in a little cafe as we talk about our plans for the day.  All the villages we'll see.  The quaint farms.  All the food.  But nothing prepared us for the beautiful fields of sunflowers making their surroundings even brighter.  What will we find in Cannes and Nice?

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

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

Valentine's Day Is Coming

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty  

Valentine's Day is coming!

And a manufactured gift is meaningless.  But, a piece of handmade original art is personal, intimate, full of energy, and a great way to say 

"I love you."

Your Friend,

Michael Kraus
MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

PS - Listen to my Graphic Ear interview at WAYO 104.3FM at: 

https://www.mixcloud.com/graphic-ear/070518-graphic-ear-with-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
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

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

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Google+: http://plus.google.com/111168390406803022323/posts

Happy 2nd Anniversary Baby Doll

HAPPY 2nd YEAR ANNIVERSARY MEGAN!!!


Two years means two days of celebration. So, Megan and I went to the Old Town School of Music to see a Columbian band called Revolu. Pretty good stuff...


Girls dancing like butterflies


Megan at the Calypso Cafe. Really good Caribbean food in the Hyde Park neighborhood. They are located at 5211 C South Harper Shopping Center.


Me. Somewhat fuzzy and in my finest goin’ out clothes.


Here’s the West Indies Patties (one vegetable, one beef) They are traditional mildly spiced pastries with citrus mustard sauce


This is Megan’s Crusted Tilapia that was mildly seasoned and crusted with crushed plantains. She didn’t care for it though...


This was the Jerk Marinated Chicken Breast. The chicken marinade was really good even though it was on cheap Gordon Food chicken patties. Delicious! The plantains were awesome!


Banana Pie with Coconut topping and Megan thinking "why does my stupid boyfriend take so many pictures." She’s annoyed because I’m preventing her from eatting that delicious dessert.


Now she’s happy because she can eat!!!


More SaveMore! Brent rocking out the Pirates of the Caribbean pinball. This is really a Caribbean themed anniversary and week.


Megan, Tony, Frances, Brent, Mike, and Noah at the SaveMore


Frances, Brent, and Mike. Two of the three had a hard time getting home. One I don’t know about. I hope all are fine...


Amanda and I. "Mike, I just wanna dance. Com’on and dance. pleeeaasse!" She’s not a bad dancer for having a torn ACL or whatever.


Brent’s rock and roll album cover


Megan and her classmate Tony from Cleveland. "What’s this place called? The SaveMore? What a dive! It’s just like home!"


Amanda telling me something very important...


Angela’s going to be in China very, very soon.


Frances had a very good time.


Went to Quenchers after the Mutiny and got myself a Tater Tot Pizza.


Roberto hates how much he loves his sandwich.


Megan out at the forest preserve near Irving Park and River Road.


Pretty cute for a longshoreman, eh?


DEER! DEER EVERYWHERE!!! By my count, we saw approximately 39 deer at the park. Not even at a distance. I mean these deer were so close I could have tackled them!


Hello little fella!


A few of its friends.


MORE DEER! Also, notice the poor urban planning. This is another example of suburban insanity. Here were are in a park loaded with tons of deer. What goes better with deer than a five-lane highway on all sides! I’ll never understand post-World War II city and traffic planners.


Another little deer just a few feet off the trail in the woods


Another of his buddies taking a rest nearby.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MEGAN!!!

The Psychodelic Hot Dog

Hey All,

It's been a while... My iMac from 1999 is having some difficulty understanding the internet these days. So much has changed. Unfortunately, that makes it difficult to check email and all. I don't really care to spend $1000 to screw around on the internet. So, if anyone has any bright ideas, I'm all ears...

A part of an exhibit at the Cultural Center.


My lady brought me out to see "high culture." Here's the Chicago Dance Festival at Millennium Park. This is some local company that was very good.


More dancing!


Abbi (sp?) at Annie Zipper's going away party. Goodbye Annie Zipper. Keep in touch.


Megan moved into her new apartment last weekend with the help of Lil Sammy Mover.


This is Megan's new apartment; "The Hobbit House." Why is this the Hobbit House, you ask? First, notice the rounded off edges on the doors and all. Nice touch. Also, the ceilings are only 6' 2". So, no basketball players allowed. It's a great place though. Especially for a 2 bedroom for $600!


This chaise is crazy. It is so well-built and solid, we had to destoy it. It was so big, heavy, and awkward that we could not get it down the stairs. How it got up the stairs baffles me too. It's a shame that such a nice piece of furniture was ruined...


Talking about nice furniture, here's Lynn Nummerdor's latest creation! The psychodelic hot dog is really becoming her trademark!


Who doesn't love a hot dog who knows he's delicious?


It's not everyday that Lamborghinis (sp?) are spotted in Humboldt Park. So, I was going to talk about how these might be to replace the one Lance Briggs, Linebacker for the Chicago Bears recently crashed with only 400 miles on it. But, on my way to the office, I saw these and a couple other Lamborghinis just north of the Merchandise Mart with cop cars marked GPD for Gothem Police Department. So, you'll probably see Christine Bale driving these around downtown Chicago when Batman: The Dark Knight comes out in the next year or so...

That's it. Hope all is well with everyone!

xoxo,

Mike

Camping In Michigan: The Blog!

There's been a lot going on lately. Sorry if my postings and all have been inconsistent. I've been traveling, working, and having a good time. Please check out my 'zine at www.myspace.com/HFIpublishing, and we're having a Humboldt Park 'Zine Picnic on July 29th @ 1pm. So, please join us!!!

Angie, SME, and Evan at the rainy BBQ


Matt and some serial killer.

Jason had his work baby show at the penthouse of our building at work. So, here's the Santa Fe sign on top of our building. It's the 18th floor, I believe...


All my co-workers on the edge. Literally; not figuratively (I hope)!


Millennium Park from the top of Santa Fe.


Roberto, the man who give me all his clothes, overlooking Millennium Park. He's having an art show soon. Roberto, please add your show info in my comments so everyone sees your great stuff!


The ladies of the tour department. Jen, Liz, and Charniece looking over Grant Park and Lake Michigan.


A view from the Santa Fe Penthouse.


Here's where the real excitement begins! I WENT CAMPING!!! Here's Megan posing at our site at Fisherman's Island (Bell's Bay) State Park just south of Charlevoix, Michigan! It's so rustic!


She's wondering where the bathroom is. It's the very stinky outhouse down the road. I emphasize stinky...


Here I am starting a fire for dinner. Brats on the menu!


Start little fire. Start!


Megan and I at the beach near our campsite.


Lake Michigan (Bell's Bay) looking toward Fisherman's Island, which isn't an island right now. There's a thin strip of land that connects it to the peninsula.


Look at all this seaweed!


Cabins are so small in northern Michigan they move them like this. No, I really don't know what is going on...


You know those brats that were on the menu. Well, something terrible happened where they all ended up in the fire and the woods. So, Megan is looking up restaurants in the Charlevoix guide. We chose the Village Pub. A very good place for hamburgers.


This is the little lake/canal between Lake Michigan and Charlevoix Lake.


Tons of boats at the new Marina downtown.


Sunsets are made for romance in Michigan. So, instead of hugging Megan I took pictures of other couples...


... and the sunset.


Hooray for drawbridges! This one rises every half hour!


Michigan is pretty.


Megan seems to be a "happy camper!"


I <3 camping. It's a time when I can get dirty and grow a beard and no one gives me shit...


Megan on Fisherman's Island trying to avoid all the decaying seaweed on shore. I was hoping to find some wild animals. Nothing...


Looking back at the mainland from Fisherman's Island.


Does anyone know what this is for? It's some kind out lookout thing, but there's no way to get on top. It's near St. Mary's Cement Factory on Lake Michigan.


Me near the marshlands bordering Lake Michigan.


Lake Michigan from the woods.


The rocky shore of Charlevoix.


I haven't built a sand castle is ages! Add this to my architectural resume...


Gathering the rock facade for the castle.


Adding the towers.


Forget sand castles! I'M BUILDING SAND SKYSCRAPERS! This is based on the Modnodnock building in Chicago.


Megan is impressed with my work...


Modnodnock again.


Cloud Gate (the bean) from Millennium Park.


Another sand skyscraper! The John Hancock building from Chicago.


Like the one in Chicago, this overlooks Lake Michigan.


Look! It's Wrigley Field!


Looking for some warmer water, we went to Charlevoix Lake. It wasn't warmer.


Back to Lake Michigan!!!


Look how shallow it is 50-75 yards from shore!


Looking for Petosky Stones and other cool rocks. If you don't know what a Petosky stone is, I suggest looking it up on wikipedia!


Mmmmmmm!!! Buffalo marinated in pineapple and peppers. I am a great chef if you didn't know.


The world's largest cherry pie from 1976 - 1987 was made in this. Traverse City made their own bigger pie in 1987. Then someone somewhere else made a bigger one then them. So...


Here are the instructions for cooking a world's largest pie.


Car show in Charlevoix for the Vientian Festival.


Does anyone know the story of having dolls attached to the front of a car. My guess is Cliff will know. Do you know, Cliff?


The "Freedom isn't Free" car. Who paints a shot up soldier on the side of their turck? This guy does!


My 1960 Chysler Imperial. All mine!


A nice Thuderbird.


Hot dogs with Squash.


When I make campfires while camping, Jesus likes to visit.


More religious pictures!


Nearing sunset at our Lake Michigan campsite.


Me looking over the large freshwater sea. Ahhh home...


I was practically barefoot the whole trip.


I am really tan and super blonde now too because of that sun.


Working on building a dam for the creek running into Lake Michigan. Again, instead of hugging my girlfriend and watching the sunset. The theme of this blog is that I am a terrible boyfriend.


The sunset.


Yep, still working on the dam...


More sunset...


Looking at Lake Charlevoix from downtown.


The mushroom house by some famous architect.


I dropped off a ton of 'zines on the trip. Here's Grand Rapids where I dumped a heap of them. It's the first time I've been there since I finished school in 2005. I use to work at a copy shop in the white building with the tower at the end of the street.


Megan and I had a good vacation. Ask us about the possum and raccoons!