Spirit of the Forest

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Spirit of the Forest

acrylic paint of canvas board

8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201805068

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your home, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/615155121/spirit-of-the-forest-original-acrylic

Moonlight breaks through the canopy of the forest as I hike in the darkness.  There's the sound of an owl in the distance warning other of my presence.  The leaves wrestle in the breeze spreading the scent of spicy apricots.  The nocturnal forest is exactly what you expect; and completely unpredictable.  In the dark shadows of the evening I can see everything and nothing at all.

This painting would look best in a small-to-medium space that is red, orange, yellow, green, dark blue, purple, black, white, beige, grey, 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 Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Lurie Children's 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

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Spirit of the Forest

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Spirit of the Forest

acrylic paint of canvas board

8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201805068

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/615155121/spirit-of-the-forest-original-acrylic

Please visit my show at:

540WMain
540 West Main Street
Rochester, NY 14608
(585) 420-8439
Open by appointment or according to class/event calendar available at:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1001003383384929/

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

Happy Trails With E.T.

Megan and I went hiking again last weekend.  This time on the Historic Erie Canal and Railroad Loop Trail in Pittsford, NY.  We did the whole loop in about 2 1/2 hours and that was with heavy lake effect snow according to Megan's hat.



And my beard...



Here's a Christmas moose from a tree stump along the Canalway Trail-Erie Canal Heritage Trail just west of the village of Pittsford at Brooks Road.  Probably done by either the Pittsford Sewer Dept. or the Music and Arts Store guys



Lock 62 was built in 1855 as an expansion of the original Erie Canal opened in the 1822.  Another lock was added on the other side in 1870.  It was made longer in 1887 and abandoned in 1920.  Much of the trail consists of the old canal and horse/mule towpath that was next to the trail.  The rest of the old canal bed heading into downtown Rochester in under Interstates 490 and 590.



As most of you know, I'm originally from Michigan.  What is interesting to me about this manmade waterway is this is the reason my home developed.  Because of the Erie Canal, settlers had an easy and affordable means to reach the Michigan Territory.  Once there, they could ship lumber, food, and mined products back east and abroad (or to rebuild Chicago after the Great Fire of 1871).  



There's lots of wildlife here too.  There was a large bird (Falcon or a Hawk, which is still up for debate) that flew within 15-20 feet of us while hunting a rabbit that screamed when it ran away from us.



If you want to see this and not do the three hour trail.  The easiest way is to park at Wegman's on Monroe Avenue in Pittsford and it's at the back of the parking lot at the top of the hill.



The other half of this trail is the former Rochester and Auburn Railroad bed, which was used from 1840 to 1960.  Unfortunately, it is little more than parking lot runoff, dumpsters, and dodging traffic from Clover to French Road.  But, once you reach French Road and head south, it's nice again.  This is an old cement sign that told train engineers to blow their whistle.



Megan telling me with her eyes to stop taking pictures and finish up this snowy hike.



E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial BOARD GAME!  My wife got this for me for Christmas.



Here's Megan trying to figure out how to play it.  Pretty much, you roll the dice hoping to avoid the van trackers and Gertie (played by Drew Barrymore), which can be done wearing his Halloween ghost costume.  The point is to collect all six puzzle pieces to assemble his "phone" and get as many unbranded Reese's Pieces as possible.  



Now, the spaceship is the coolest and dumbest part of the whole game.  It took me a while and lots of difficulty to assemble.  It's folded cardstock with a ramp and all sorts of nonsense.  What do you use it for?  Nothing.  It's how ET gets home, but there is no function as for the game.


An internet "shout out" goes out to Sarah and Pete for tampering with my blog by getting me the hiking book for Christmas.  Thanks again!  Tomorrow, we're going to a professionals networking event.  Friday, going to the Amerks minor league hockey game, which is $1 Zweigle dogs and Molson beer night as well as "Seneca Legends Night featuring Jody Gage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jody_Gage."  Some playoff football over the weekend.  Then looking to volunteer at a local nonprofit next week.  So, a full schedule.

So damn hot...

Man, it's like a thousand degrees outside today. I can't believe there are actually people who purposefully move to places that are like this all the time. This reminds me of my trip to Death Valley, California when I was 17. I vowed then I would never live in a place without water. Thankfully, my girlfriend has air conditioning...


The new Pink Line Train!


Wicker Park Festival. Look at the size of that Guacamole (sp?) bowl!


Wicker Park Festival. They were missing two things for a good fair. Good cheap beer and Chicago sausages...


Wicker Park Festival from Damen Stop Blue Line


Streetwall just off of Congress


One of the tall ships in this week for the festival downtown


Alley behind my work


Wabash Streetwall between Adams and Jackson


Moose made of bumpers from that artist in Evanston


Frances who know lives in Evanston. We went to a few too many bars and had about a 5th too much Rum. Arg!


Twisting TV at ABC studios on State and Lake


Frances and I at Snickers on State


Nick Nummerdor and Lloyd


FENN!!!


Frances and Matt.


Murder House neighbor, Christine (I believe)


Classified ads in Chicago


Matt is in awe


Frances and I somehow woke up at 7:30am sick to our stomachs, hungover, and trying to take the bus home. I didn't even get a nap in. Frances may be dead...


France Close. Intern, freelance artist, friend. R.I.P.

That's it from Chicago. I'm going to lay in front of the air conditioning and eat chips and cheese today. Much love.

xoxo,

Mike