Having a Fun Mother's Day

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

It's a good feeling to know that love connects a mother and child no matter how great the distance.  While we won't get to celebrate Mother's Day together, our temporary physical separation will overwhelm our timeless affection for each other.  This will be the start of new traditions: watching movies together (Netflix Party), decorate mom's front door/yard, or magical travel using Zoom virtual backgrounds.  Be creative!  Have a great Mother’s Day. AND REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN!

Stay Safe and Wash Your Hands,

Mike Kraus

MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

PS - Tips For Working At Home

General: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2020/03/tips-for-working-at-home.html

Virtual Office: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2020/03/tips-for-working-at-home-staging-your.html

Virtual Backgrounds: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2020/04/virtual-backgrounds-for-zoom-and.html

Mental Health and Making a Routine: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2020/04/tips-for-working-at-home-mental-health.html

Your Work Space: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2020/04/tips-for-working-at-home-your-work-space.html

Setting Office Hours: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2020/04/tips-for-working-at-home-setting-office.html

Take A Break: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2020/04/tips-for-working-at-home-take-break.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

Do You Want To Personalize Your Home?

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Everyone has that space in their home that feels empty.  Maybe it's an awkward spot that is difficult to fit something into.  Or it's a large wall that feels daunting to fill.  Your home should feel like you, which is better than mass produced junk from a big-box store.  It's about your values, family, and wonderful memories.

What styles, patterns, or motifs are you drawn to?  What colors do you love?  How do you want your space to feel and what do you want it to say?

Have questions?  Please let me know and we'll find something that's perfect for you.

Your Friend,

Michael Kraus
MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

PS - JUST ANNOUNCED!  Please join me at the opening of my Brightscapes show at Mendon 64 (http://mendon64.com/) on Tuesday September 3rd. More information at:

 https://www.facebook.com/events/682874978802604/

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

Happy Baby

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Happy Baby

acrylic paint on canvas

5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)
201806077

© copyright Mike Kraus

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

LET'S CREATE YOUR VERY OWN PAINTING TOGETHER! Your cherished memory or idea can be made into a work of art. Whether you want to remember a special day or give something to a caring friend; we can work together to create something unique. Invest in yourself and the arts with a special vision to color your walls.

THANK TO KETTLE RIDGE FARM!  I had another great day at KettleFest.  It's always great meeting so many wonderful people, local artisans, talented musicians, and eating all the honey and maple syrup pancakes.

More About Mike Kraus Art

Boston Voyager Magazine Interview

http://bostonvoyager.com/interview/check-mike-krauss-artwork/

Join my 540WMain Community Learning Academy workshop "How To Become A Professional Artist

https://www.facebook.com/events/308616739898516

Graphic Ear Interview on WAYO 104.3 FM​ Rochester at:

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

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

Have S'more

Have S'more, 2016

Acrylic on canvas board

5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/237508828/have-smore-original-acrylic-painting-5-x

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

It's been a long, beautiful day hiking through the natural settings of the state park.  We soak our worn feet into a cool creek and put on sandals on the way back to the campsite for dinner.  In deep darkness, we grill a few brats and vegetables over a small flame.  It gives a flavor you can't acquire on a stove or oven.  And, of course, the perfect way to finish the day is with a s'more.

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

Have S'more

Have S'more, 2016

Acrylic on canvas board

5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/237508828/have-smore-original-acrylic-painting-5-x

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

It's been a long, beautiful day hiking through the natural settings of the state park.  We soak our worn feet into a cool creek and put on sandals on the way back to the campsite for dinner.  In deep darkness, we grill a few brats and vegetables over a small flame.  It gives a flavor you can't acquire on a stove or oven.  And, of course, the perfect way to finish the day is with a s'more.

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

Have S'more

Have S'more, 2015

Acrylic on canvas board

5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/237508828/have-smore-original-acrylic-painting-5-x?

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

It's been a long, beautiful day hiking through the natural settings of the state park.  We soak our worn feet into a cool creek and put on sandals on the way back to the campsite for dinner.  In deep darkness, we grill a few brats and vegetables over a small flame.  It gives a flavor you can't acquire on a stove or oven.  And, of course, the perfect way to finish the day is with a s'more.

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

Good Night Factory

Good Night Factory, 2014

scratchboard

© copyright Mike Kraus

The Acropolis or Coliseum of the Industrial Age.  Ruins commonly found throughout the Rust Belt.  The upheaval that occurred as families left the manual labor of their farms for the power-driven manufacturing of monolithic corporations.  A complicated artificial bond that brought gains in efficiency, medicine, and life expectancy as well as ecological damage, dehumanization, and greater inequality.  A dysfunctional relationship that scars entire regions as production is automated or leaves for poverty-stricken districts desperate for menial wages.  What happens to people when we are no longer needed?

A Stumble Down Memory Lane

Found a ton of photos in a box while cleaning out my childhood bedroom.  What a great opportunity to embarrass myself and the one's I love.

My Jim Harbaugh grin at some ice cream parlor in Allendale, Michigan in 2002.  These kids to the right were doing something funny that was not captured on film.  But, I like the picture all the same...

"Excuse me Mr. Queer, will you take a picture with my sons?"  Nothing like being 15 years old and taking a trip down to Chicago to see The Queers, the Groovie Ghoulies, Screw 32, and Alkaline Trio (their first show) at the Metro.  That was also the trip where the highway caught on fire in Gary, Indiana and no one seemed to care.  They just drove through it.

Mike Nummerdor after the Chicago concert.  We stayed at some hotel in Michigan City, Indiana and stayed up all night (which was easy if you drank enough Bubba Cola).  I'll have to put up the pictures of us at the outlet mall next to the nuclear plant and other oddities at some point.

Meerkat Mike.  Probably about 1997 when the Nummerdor family moved into their home on the corner of Forest Park and Lake Harbor.  Lynne tasked us with removing a post at the end of the driveway, which ended up being a far bigger task than expected.  We did far more damage than help on that project.   

Nick Nummerdor as a groundhog.  

"Mom.  You just hit that button.  No, not that one.  The other one.  No.  What?  Did it go off?"  This was part of some project I was working on .  There are a series of these photos trying to instruct my mom on how to use the weird, cheap camera I use to own.   

Hey!  There's a gnome behind that rock!

J.T. Law teamwork retreat to St. Andrew's Hall in Pontiac, Michigan to see NoFX.  We're with Fat Mike, the lead singer and bassist.  Ben looks confused because he thought he was just some random guy we met in the parking lot.

Nick, Greg from the Bouncing Souls, and myself before the show at St. Andrew's Hall 

Ah, Ben figured out how I scored us free tickets to the show and we're not just randomly harassing people in the parking lot.  

 Grand Rapids is Burning!  On my way to something and got stuck when a building burned down near Division Street.  

Paul Bourdon, Me, Roddy Moon at our high school graduation in 1999 

Rodd Moon trying on an Inspector Gadget trench coat at ValuLand (RIP).   

And, more art.  A cool envelope by fellow SAIC alum, Jeni Gifford.