Showing posts with label hiking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hiking. Show all posts

Friday, March 5, 2021

Chicago Street

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Chicago Street
acrylic paint on canvas board
5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)
202103015
© copyright Mike Kraus
It's so cold outside that the door handle has frost on the inside of the apartment.  I eat my toast as I put on my layers of clothing: thick socks, long johns, undershirt, and ski goggles so my eyes don't freeze waiting for the train.  I top off my thermos of coffee and grab a few office papers.  I prepare myself for the wind chill as I put on my hat coat and boots.  As, I open the door, I know it's going to be a great day as the landlord already cleared the sidewalk. 


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:
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Friday, January 29, 2021

Winter Glow

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Winter Glow
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm) 
202101004
© copyright Mike Kraus

Winter isn't always gloomy.  The grey clouds do break in the morning sun.  The crisp air snaps in the warmth of the sunlight.  The snow and ice on branches sparkle.  You find what you look for.

This painting would look best in a small-to-medium space that is yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white, 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
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MikeKrausBlog
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Friday, December 11, 2020

Among the Mountains

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Among the Mountains
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm) 
202012115
© copyright Mike Kraus

*NOTICE - SHIPPING DELAYS HARMING SMALL BUSINESSES MAY BE EXPERIENCED: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/aug/16/usps-mail-delays-postmaster-general-changes-workers

The journey echoes through the mountains.  They let us know our place in the universe.  A retreat from civilization all too consumed with fickle affairs and transitory turmoil.  It's immense vastness is a tiny speck of known existence.  Among the mountains reminds me.

This painting would look best in a space that is red, orange, yellow, green, dark blue, purple, black, white, 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:
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Friday, November 13, 2020

Vision Quest XLV

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Vision Quest XLV
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
202011106
© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/245261193

*NOTICE - SHIPPING DELAYS HARMING SMALL BUSINESSES MAY BE EXPERIENCED: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/aug/16/usps-mail-delays-postmaster-general-changes-workers

Twilight along the shore of the Lake Michigan.  In the valley between the dunes is a cluster of birch.  Their white bark clinging to the trunks of the unusual trees.  A humble spot secluded by nature.  A perfect place to find one's purpose in life.

This piece would look best in a small-to-medium space that is red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white, grey, beige, or wood.

Having Fun During Coronavirus
Art Project: 
Building a Fire Pit:
Share Heart of Hope:
Hiking:
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Parlor Game:
Celebrating Women:
Have A Picnic:
You Haven't Seen That?!? Game:
Have Some Theme Spirit:
Working For the Weekend:
Honor and Remembrance:
Apple Picking and Other Farms:
Halloween Gravedigger Flashlight Game:
VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!:
https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2020/11/vote-vote-vote-having-fun-during-covid.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:
at 1 comment:

Thursday, October 22, 2020

HAPPY 7TH SCOUT-IVERSARY!

 HAPPY 7TH SCOUT-IVERSARY!

EXTENDED COVID-19/CORONAVIRUS EDITION!  In the before times, we'd lazily wander around Corbett's Glen, the site of Scout's first walk after adoption.  To follow health and safety guidelines and avoid crowds, Scout-iversary has been extended to a full weekend and covers the Finger Lakes Region!






BUT WAIT!  THERE'S MORE!

Here's the view from Ontario County Park at Gannett Hill (https://www.co.ontario.ny.us/Facilities/Facility/Details/Ontario-County-Park-at-Gannett-Hill-4)



Enjoy the sunlight now.  The next time you'll see it is in May...

Weird place to find a Roman highway

COVID-19/Coronavirus Discovery: Mountain bike paths are an absurd and tiring way to get lost in the woods.


Judging from the distance, looking at Boston...

So this is then looking toward Montreal...

Megan's vision of the perfect photo with Scout

Scout's vision of the perfect photo with Megan

PUPPY ATTACK!




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Thursday, October 15, 2020

Choose Your Own Title: "This Is 40" or "COVID-40"

BIRTHDAY BLOWOUT!
Can you believe of the dozen of photos this is the best bubble Megan made?

Megan took the day off of work and we celebrated all around the Finger Lakes.  We started off the day having a picnic breakfast at Bare Hill Unique Area (https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/37438.html) overlooking Canandaigual Lake and Bristol.

Onward and upward!  Visited Conklin's Gully at the High Tor Wildlife Management Area (https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/24439.html).  The vertical climb at the start did burn off the apple cake breakfast.  And, it is a pretty amazing very from the edge of the cliff.




Megan preparing lunch at Keuka Lake State Park (https://parks.ny.gov/parks/keukalake/maps.aspx)

It's like living in a brochure for visiting upstate New York.

Bench looking toward Branchport



Megan put all my favorite meats into one sandwich.  It was delicious and drove our pup Scout insane.



When magic is delivered to your mailbox

Spiderman says #WearAMask

Seneca Mills Falls on the Keuka Outlet Trail (https://www.keukaoutlettrail.org/) between Penn Yan and Dresden.  


If you're going to have ruins, they might as well be beautiful

Megan's Totally Tubular 80's Quiz: Mike Edition.  Thanks for everyone who participated.  I don't know what's worse: how much I forgot or how much my wife learned...

To go with the 1980s theme, Megan and I split a bag of Big League Chew (https://www.bigleaguechew.com/).  It's exactly how I remember it.  And I was instantly transported to being an 8 year old playing pee-wee baseball and having the whole bench being yelled at by the coach because we're blowing bubbles instead of paying attention to our game. 

Downtown Penn Yan at the end of the trail.  It reminded me of the old paths connecting towns and villages in Europe.  A perfect setting for Robin Hood and other medieval characters.

If you're going to make pancakes anyway, just use a 28-foot griddle and set a world record.

For all you singles out there, find a partner that will make you sloppy joes and tater tots on your birthday and never let them go..

If you didn't know, Megan is a trained cake decorator.  Really?  That's amazing!  Her creations are scattered throughout my blog over the years.  You can tell because she was smart enough to avoid using 40 individual candles.  A stylistic choice my asthma appreciates.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TEXTS, POSTS, CALLS, MAIL, AND BIRHTDAY GREETINGS IN OTHER FORMS OF COMMUNICATION!!!  I really appreciate it.  I love and miss you all.  In a year full of difficulty and grief, I'm so grateful to have such wonderful friends and family to celebrate with.  When life happens, I'm glad we're all in it together!

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Friday, September 4, 2020

Twilight Woods

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Twilight Woods
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
202009076
© copyright Mike Kraus
We made a late-night social distancing adventure away from the city's light pollution.  NEOWISE was visiting our sky for the first time in 6,766 years.  On its last stopover to Earth, humans were just figuring out how to domestic pigs.  How far we've come.  The stars shoot and silence is intoxicating.  It's when the surreal becomes the real.

This piece would look best in a small-to-medium space that is dark red, yellow, green, dark navy blue, purple, black, white, grey, beige, or wood.

Having Fun During Coronavirus

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:
at 1 comment:
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