Twilight Woods

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Twilight Woods #265

gouache paint on Bristol paper

NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION

2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm)

201801011

© copyright Michael Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/244918085/twilight-woods-265-artist-trading-cards

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

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

Aqui the Goat

Aqui, 2018

acrylic paint on canvas board

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

201801006

© copyright Michael Kraus

To purchase, 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. For examples of my previous work, please visit: MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

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

Twilight Woods

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

 Twilight Woods #263

gouache paint on Bristol paper

NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION

2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm)

201801008

© copyright Michael Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/563974946/twilight-woods-263-artist-trading-card

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

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

Hemlock Lake

Hemlock Lake, 2017

acrylic paint on canvas board

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

201708084

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/538118402/hemlock-lake-original-acrylic-painting

Why Invest In Original Art?  A great way to add your personality to a room is by decorating the walls with artwork.  Big box stores offer a lot of cheap options with prints, posters, and other mass produced options.  But, they lose their value immediately and rarely earn more than a few bucks years later in a garage sale.  So, if you're trying to freshen up a tired space, redecorating, or a new home-owner, you may want to consider investing in original artwork.

Isn't original art expensive?  It can be.  The Scream by Edvard Munch did sell for $120 million in 2012.  But, there are more affordable options from artists that are established, mid-career, or just emerging.  But, let's review the three reasons original art is more expensive than reproductions: 1) Quality, 2) Scarcity, and 3) Production.

Quality - A painter will take a canvas, paint it with primer, and then design a subject using various colors, materials, and imagination.  Usually, this creates a texture and a vividness.  It is hand crafted by the artist.  A reproduction is a photographic copy that has difficulty capturing and holding that quality depending on the resolution, printing, and quality of paper.

Anyone using a copy machine knows the quality of the image declines the further away from the original the print comes from.  

Scarcity - There's only one original.  And the more well-known and talented the artist is, the most valuable the piece will become.  This severely limited supply of one compared to the potentially unlimited demand of art consumers can increase prices very rapidly.  Mass produced posters remain cheap because if they sellout, they can always just print more.

Production - To create a piece, an artist may spend anywhere between a few minutes to several years.  It can vary depending on size, subject, materials, complexity, etc.  Genius and inspiration are impossible to schedule and mass produce.  All of these factors come together to determine the artist earnings for a piece.  With reproductions, all the creative process costs are eliminated.  A machine can mindlessly make copy after copy without end.

Please visit: http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/art-investing.html for some advice to consider in purchasing original artwork.

This painting would look best in an average sized space.  It would work best with the colors red, light green, yellow, orange, dark blue, purple, black, white, gray, beige, or wood.

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

Want to see my work in person?  Then visit these galleries:

Whitman Works Co. 1826 Penfield Rd, Penfield, NY 14526 (585) 747-9999 https://www.whitmanworks.com/

Art Cats Gallery 1845 Lakeshore Dr, Muskegon, MI 49441 (231) 755-7606 http://artcatsgallery.com/

Roman Bridge Outside of Ferreirós do Dão, Portugal

Roman Bridge Outside of Ferreirós do Dão, Portugal, 2017

acrylic paint on canvas

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

201707076

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/243370724/roman-bridge-outside-of-ferreiros-do-dao

Your home is an extension of your personality.  And using original artwork is a great way to show that individuality.  With a little effort, you could greatly enhance your home's status by showcasing original art in your living spaces.  Here's a tip to consider when choosing artwork.

What color piece should I choose?  The answer depends on your space and what you want to accomplish.  Do you want the piece to blend in to the space or do you want it to be the focus and "pop?"  Are the colors in your room bold or light and pastel?  To my patrons, I usually suggest looking at interior design websites, magazines, pinterest, etc. to find places similar to theirs or how they want their spaces to look.  I'll even bring paint swatches from the hardware store to come up with a palette.  And if your house is all beige or gray, something bright and bold maybe what you're looking for.  Or if your walls have a lot of color, a black and white piece may be a stunning addition...  (more at: http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/how-to-use-original-artwork-in-your.html)

This painting would look best in an average sized space.  The suggested wall colors are dark red, orange, yellow, light green, dark blue, light purple, black, white, gray, or beige.

For more information or custom order, please visit:
Etsy: 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

Want to see my work in person?  Then visit these galleries:

Whitman Works Co. 1826 Penfield Rd, Penfield, NY 14526 (585) 747-9999 https://www.whitmanworks.com/

Art Cats Gallery 1845 Lakeshore Dr, Muskegon, MI 49441 (231) 755-7606 http://artcatsgallery.com/

Roman Bridge Outside of Ferreirós do Dão, Portugal

Roman Bridge Outside of Ferreirós do Dão, Portugal, 2017

acrylic on canvas

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

201707073

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

Her dad was from Ferreirós do Dão, one of the oldest villages in Portugal at 1,080 years old.  It's history is as solid as the Ponte Romana bridge crossing the Rio Dão.  Her dad grew up in the shadow of the bridge creating some of his fondest memories along its banks.  Recollections he'd later share with his daughter.  So, thinking of her dad on Father's Day, she started looking up pictures of the village of Ferreirós do Dão on the internet.  

While scanning the random images, she came across a small painting and said, "Hey-that's my village..."  Immediately, she contacted me to purchase the piece, which had unfortunately been sold a few years earlier.  That disappointment quickly turned into a wonderful opportunity when she discovered I could offer to do a custom commission piece.  While she liked my original piece, she was excited to be able to have a much large version to fit into her amazing antique frame.  And since she visits the village every other year, I'd be able to use her photographs to adjust the colors and tailor specific details to her memories.  Reflections of her father and his village in Portugal that she can be reminded of every time she see's this special piece in her southern Californian home.   

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

The Sentry

 The Sentry, 2016

pen, ink, and graphite on bristol paper

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

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/241872331/the-sentry-original-ink-drawing-5-x-7-by

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

FREE SHIPPING IN THE UNITED STATES

The streets can be a dangerous place.  Strange noises coming from the alleys.  Suspicious people on the street corner.  Cars slowing down as they pass you from behind walking on the sidewalk.  That is why there is: The Sentry.

This drawing would look best in a colorful space that is bright red, orange, yellow, light green, blue, purple, black, white, neutral, or wood.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

Under the Streetlight

 Under the Streetlight, 2016

scratchboard

5" x 7" in a frame (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm in a frame)

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/205136978/under-the-streetlight-original

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

The sidewalks are quiet this time of night.  Only the rustling of liter when there's a breeze.  A crumpled fast food bag bouncing down the potholed asphalt.  The glow of the streetlights evenly illuminate the neighborhood.  Burning bright while most people are asleep. 

This piece would work in most spaces that are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white, beige, or wood.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

Supply Run

 Supply Run, 2016

pen, ink, and graphite on bristol paper

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

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/187361236/supply-run-original-ink-drawing-5-x-7-by

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

FREE SHIPPING IN THE UNITED STATES

A weekend to myself.  Better get everything I need to survive.  A few meals, junk food for snacks, something for dessert, and something to drink to make me feel good.  Aisles and aisles of brightly colored sugary treats.  All waiting for me to let myself go.

This drawing would look best in a colorful space that is bright red, orange, yellow, light green, blue, purple, black, white, neutral, or wood.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

Rabbit Run

Rabbit Run

acrylic paint on canvas board

8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm) 

© copyright Mike Kraus 

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/186507940/custom-commission-original-art-by-mike

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

Looking for the perfect gift for the holidays?  Space is limited and filling up quickly for custom commissioned pieces by Mike Kraus.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

Vision Quest XV

Vision Quest XV, 2015

acrylic painting on canvas board

8" x 10" in a frame (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm in a frame)

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/221312526/vision-quest-xv-original-acrylic

This painting was featured at:

BRIGHTSCAPES

Canandaigua National Bank and Trust

210 Alexander Street

Rochester, NY 14607

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

I have stayed here for several days.  Alone in the wilderness with only the things I can carry in my backpack.  I've been rationing my food and water to extend my time here.  There's an intensity to the evening sun that is counter-balanced by the darkness of the soil.  A delicate harmony to everything.

This piece would work in a space that is red, burnt orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, white, neutral beige, or wood.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

I'll be one of the artists at KettleFest 2016 on Saturday September 17th!

https://www.facebook.com/events/752139868222934/

Sunflower Field of Provence France

Sunflower Field of Provence France, 2015

Acrylic on Canvas

8" x 10" in a frame (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm in a frame)

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/257185902/sunflower-field-of-provence-france

This painting was featured at:

BRIGHTSCAPES

Canandaigua National Bank and Trust

210 Alexander Street

Rochester, NY 14607

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

It was a late start from Avignon as we lingered at a cafe savoring our coffee and croissants.  A warm breeze with a sweet scent was blowing as we hiked our way toward Carpentras.  My backpack filled with necessities like snacks, water, and wine.  It will come in handy when we find a beautiful place to rest our worn feet.  Perhaps overlooking the rolling hills of sunflowers.

It's framed by Gianluca Moretti using yellow poplar wood, and finished with acrylic semi glossy. Gianluca is a woodworker that I partner with on Etsy. You can see more of his frames and more of his pieces at his shop located at: www.etsy.com/shop/MorettisCreations.

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

FREE SHIPPING IN THE UNITED STATES!

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

I'll be one of the artists at KettleFest 2016 on Saturday September 17th!

https://www.facebook.com/events/752139868222934/