Showing posts with label outdoors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label outdoors. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

The Fire

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


The Fire #441
gouache paint on Bristol paper
2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION
202107060

A late evening at the fire pit is acknowledging the past, dreaming of my future self, and appreciating the moment now.  Enjoying a cold drink and a sweet marshmallow on a s'more.  We share stories of former stupid acts and false beliefs to entertain and enlighten.  Listening to each other and the cracks and pops of the flames.  This reflection is how we prepare to be better tomorrow.


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 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.

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Have A Picnic: Having Fun During Coronavirus


Have A Picnic: Having Fun During Coronavirus

Coronavirus (COVID-19) safe practices can feel isolating and lonely.  But, there are still many ways to stay healthy, active, and keep our mental health (https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2020/04/tips-for-working-at-home-mental-health.html).  One way to have fun is to have a picnic.  Here are some tips.

1) The Perfect Location - Are you looking for a romantic spot or a place to bring the kids?  Will it be crowded?  Are there amenities and will they be open?  What is the weather prediction?  Some things to consider before packing up the car.

2) Other People Invited? - Bring your own food, snacks, drinks, utensils and no sharing.  Do not attend if you have asthma, heart disease, diabetes, overweight, have/survived cancer, or 50+ year old.  Do not attend if you have or have had Coronavirus or showing symptoms (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html).  Wear a mask and practice social distancing (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/social-distancing.html).  Limit attendance and check local health department for guidelines and restrictions.  Talk with everyone about comfort levels.  Expect and allow non-participation and last minute cancellations. 



3) Kids - Make them feel included.  Provide options and let them choose what they want to eat, where they'd like to go, and what activities they want to participate in.  Engage them in preparing the meal and other events.  It's a lot more fun if they have ownership in it's creation.

4) What To Pack - How will you get to the spot; near car or hiking?  How difficult will it be to bring a cooler?  Plan accordingly.  And don't forget your large blanket, plates, cups, utensils, ice, corkscrew/bottle opener, serving spoon/knife, napkins, paper towels, garbage bags, hand sanitizer, and sunscreen if needed.  



5) Food - It can be as simple or as complicated as you like.  You can hike deep in the forest and have pre-made sandwiches.  Or bring a grill and spend all day smoking meat to perfection.  There are websites dedicated to every picnic recipe possibility.  Personally, I like all the courses: drinks and appetizers, main course with sides, dessert, more drinks, and snacks for other activities.

6) DON'T FORGET TO HAVE FUN! - Choose a theme.  Hike through nature.  Bring some games with prizes.  

This is all about breaking routine.  To feel good by ditching monotony.  To engage with those we love and find new inspiration.  Leave the boredom of electronic device at home and discover something exciting by exploring something new.

And, please feel free to contact if you have any questions or suggestions!




Health and Safety Considerations for gathering:
1) No indoor activities
2) No sharing bathrooms
3) Wash hands before and after gathering.  Don't touch your face.
4) Bring your own food, snacks, drinks, and utensils.
5) Do not attend if you have asthma, heart disease, diabetes, overweight, have/survived cancer, or 50+ year old.
6) Do not attend if you have or have had Coronavirus or showing symptoms (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html).
8) Limit attendance.  Check local health department for guidelines and restrictions.
9) Talk with everyone about comfort levels.  Expect and allow non-participation and last minute cancellations.

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.

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Twilight Woods

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Twilight Woods
acrylic paint 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/245261193/twilight-woods-original-acrylic-painting

I follow the winding path not knowing where I'll end up. The trees rustle in the breeze stirring up the aromas of the forest. A freshness one always has to remind themselves of in civilization. The light refracts in strange ways at this time. It's when the surreal becomes the real. 


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


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:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus



My family came to America at different times for a myriad of reasons: the French to settle new land, the English and Germans for business opportunities, and the Irish to escape cruel oppression. The United States was a beacon of hope that only required our allegiance to the Constitution.

I am extremely disturbed that a country that has shown me and my family such kindness is so cruel to others. This is not about politics. This is about justice, kindness, and truth. These children and parents are fleeing Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala because government-supported gangs are violently attacking them (https://www.rescue.org/article/what-causing-growing-humanitarian-crisis-along-us-mexico-border). After a dangerous journey, we deny them their rights to asylum (https://www.amnestyusa.org/campaigns/refugee-and-migrant-rights/), we kidnap and lose their children (https://www.aclu.org/issues/immigrants-rights/immigrants-rights-and-detention/family-separation), cage and sexually assault children (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/27/us/immigrant-children-sexual-abuse.html?fbclid=IwAR1613Noe_Lczrx4etRHBNLxQS2BSlLu6Pr16uxKkaQy3U7wzl2V3211y_0), and deny them due process and indefinite imprisonment at detention/internment/concentration camps (https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-katz-immigrant-concentration-camps-20190609-story.html).  We're allowing them to die in these terrible conditions (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/24-immigrants-have-died-ice-custody-during-trump-administration-n1015291).  And we arrest and try to imprison good, Christians who provide food and water to those in need (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/11/arizona-activist-migrant-water-scott-daniel-warren-verdict).

I don't care about politics and find involvement in them to be humiliating.  I do care about honesty, fairness, and respect.  I ask that you remember your family roots, that you search your heart, and confront cruelty in all its forms.

For ways to help, please visit:
https://www.raicestexas.org/



Friday, September 4, 2015

Summer Memories

ROLLING STONES CONCERT!  WHOOO!!!  Love the lady over my shoulder.  Also the one on my shoulder...

Went to the concert with Sean and Marianne.  Stadium is just a little different than it is for a Bills game.  A lot of milling around during the set by St. Paul and the Broken Bones. 

You know you're band has put on a lot of concerts when the tour name has regressed into zip codes... 

YEAH!!! 



 That's a mob


Heading back to the car after the show.  One band from the bucket list crossed off.

Robin feeding her chicks at the in-law's house.  You can see a couple of the hungry mouths peaking out. 

Keep feedin' 'em momma! 

Mom and babes moved out the the ol nest.  Summer, where did you go?

And here's a human baby nest!  It was a good way to contain the twins for a while.  Now they crawl over, under, around, and through anything.   

Not nearly enough bonfires this summer.  Too much rain and cold early on.  Maybe that means more in the fall?   

For dessert, some grilled watermelon.  Some recipe from Pinterest said to glaze them with olive oil or something.  Made it taste like weird meat...  

That's all for now. 

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

SUMMER DAYS! (Limited Time ONLY)

Bringing a little bit of Chicago to Rochester.  Take a nice walk on a 80 degree day, running errands, with an adult Capri Sun...

Unlimited entertainment.  The neighbors are chopping down/trimming a bunch of trees.  I've never seen such creative use of a chainsaw before.

FINALLY!  Megan walking Scout through Linear Park for the first time on my commute to work.  This was a really big weekend for Scout with all the walks and all.  With the warm sun out, she discovered that she does like going outside now. 

Megan and Scout along Irondequoit Creek.   

Heaven is sitting on the porch chewing a stick 

 A good place to cool off and hide from Megan's scary rake.

This was a good weekend.

Time to rest now that winter is coming back...

Please check out my art at:
Don't see anything you'd like, let me know and I could create something special for you!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

If Ithaca Is Gorge-ous, Then Illinois Is Dell-icious...

Megan and I went to Starved Rock for the weekend. So, not much to comment on other than look at the colors and dells/gorges/canyons:


Days Inn swimming pool


Top of Starved Rock
















This is Starved Rock


Here's the island where all the eagles gather during migration or something






Peering way down Eagle Outlook or something


















An optical illusion makes me appear to be bow-legged...






















Funny graffiti. I like that this was someone's collaboration. Someone to do the writing. Someone to do the drawing. I also like the drawing of the McCain baby eater wears a cape...








Looking down at a man playing with his dogs from an outlook about 100+ feet up.


The company Megan and I keep these days...


















































We tried to stay in one of these cabins, but they were all full. They are pretty much always full. But, I like the Days Inn at Oglesby because it had a pool and hot tub!!!


Steps carved into the rock






Wasp nest














The main lodge at Starved Rock.










panorama!












My little splunker!








Megan on a cliff


Actually, we spent our weekend on a cliff




What does a port-o-potty have to do with a skunk with a gun?


In Peru, Megan and I went to a restaurant called "Mark Allen's American Cuisine" or something like that. It was really good and Megan and I were their mascots. I'm even wearing the same outfit. WEIRD!


Just south of Staved Rock State Park is Mathiassen State Park. The rest of the photos are from there.










Megan crossing the river




Me at "Goliath's Bathtub."


























WE FOUND THE "SPONGE BOB SQUARE PANTS" ROCK!!!




Notice the little man at bottom center meditating...










So, we took this shot and it looked like we were in front of a "green screen" or photoshoped or something. So, we had to retake it so it would look more "real," which it really is.


For some reason, it only looks more fake...


My little splunker again!


On the way home, Megan and I stopped in Ottawa, Illinois at Washington Park, which was one of the sites of the Lincoln/Douglas Debates. I wanted to continue my tradition of standing with the statues of presidents, but this town was way too smart for me. That fountain was really a moat about 3 feet deep with freezing water and sharks. So, I had to settle for a distance shot. But, you better believe that Ottawa better improve their statue security for the next time I am there because I am bringing wooden planks, rope, and more the next time I'm there. YOU HEAR ME OTTAWA!

That's it for now (which was a lot in this super blog). If you made it down this far, thanks for viewing. Also, next blog will be about Obama's election party in Grant Park (if I can get within a hundred miles of it).

xoxo,

Mike

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