Showing posts with label painting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label painting. Show all posts

Friday, October 17, 2025

🛠️ Relaxation, a Dog, and a Weekend That Belongs to Me 🛠️

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


🛠️ Assembly Not Included 🛠️ 
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
202510051
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.
To purchase for your home, please visit:

Some mornings hum like a secret meant only for me, quiet and golden at the edges. I wake without alarms or tiny demands, just the soft rhythm of my own choosing. The air feels lighter, almost tender, as if the world remembers to breathe with me. I move through the day with unhurried hands, tracing joy in small rituals: reading what I please, wandering where I wish, painting what I dream. My world stays whole, uncluttered, and entirely mine, and I carry that freedom like sunlight in my pocket.

When was the last time you felt the sweet hush of a day that belonged only to you?

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


🍂✨ The Fabulous Fall Art Festival is coming! ✨🍂

Join us online starting November 3rd for a cozy celebration of creativity, color, and community! Meet amazing artists, explore handmade treasures, and fill your home with beauty all from the comfort of your couch.

Artists and art lovers, this is your space to connect, share, and be inspired. Come join the fun! 


My Story
Hi, I’m Mike the artist of Mike Kraus Art Inc.

I’ve been making art since I could hold a crayon. As a kid, I’d fill every notebook, homework margin, and scrap of paper with doodles. I sold my first artwork in junior high, sketching in class and handing off pieces between periods. That early love for making things never faded. I followed it all the way to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and eventually, I decided to stop treating art as a side hustle and make it my life’s work.

My paintings are full of energy, motion, and saturated color. I’m drawn to bold shapes and organic lines—forms that feel alive. I create with the hope that my work brings something beautiful and uplifting into someone’s day. Whether it’s a spark of joy, a moment of calm, or just a splash of color that makes you pause—I want my art to connect with something real.

Now, I’m lucky enough to paint full-time, with collectors across the U.S. and in dozens of countries around the world. But more than anything, I still feel like that kid with a crayon, excited to create. I’m grateful to share this journey with you—and I hope you find something in my work that makes your world a little brighter.

For more information or custom order, please visit:
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Friday, July 18, 2025

🌊 Wish I Could Stay a Little Longer 🌊

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


🌊😎 Beach In Cannes, France 😎🌊
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
202506029
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.
To purchase for your home, please visit: 

We wandered along the curve of the beach in Cannes, letting the salt air cling to our skin and the hush of the Mediterranean guide our steps. The golden sand warmed our feet, and the waves traced the shoreline like they were sculpting it anew with every breath. To our right, elegant trees cast soft shade over the promenade, and just beyond them, the grand old buildings of the city stood watching; quiet, regal, sunlit. Far ahead, the hills rose gently, cradling Cannes in their arms, while behind us the world slipped away without a sound. We didn’t talk much; we didn’t need to. The rhythm of the sea said more than we could. For a moment, it felt like we belonged to the coast itself; not as visitors, but as part of its slow, golden heartbeat.

If you could pause time anywhere, would it be by the sea?

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


Are you looking to grow your art collection without breaking the bank? Join us for the Artist Trading Card (& small art) Festival (Aug 4–6, 2025) — a vibrant virtual event where you can BUY, SELL, TRADE, and SHARE original mini masterpieces with artists from around the world. Handcrafted, affordable, and full of personality — it’s everything your collection didn’t know it needed. ✨ 👉 Are you ready to find your next tiny treasure?  RSVP at: https://www.facebook.com/events/582766991295652

My Story
Hi, I’m Mike the artist of Mike Kraus Art Inc.

I’ve been making art since I could hold a crayon. As a kid, I’d fill every notebook, homework margin, and scrap of paper with doodles. I sold my first artwork in junior high, sketching in class and handing off pieces between periods. That early love for making things never faded. I followed it all the way to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and eventually, I decided to stop treating art as a side hustle and make it my life’s work.

My paintings are full of energy, motion, and saturated color. I’m drawn to bold shapes and organic lines—forms that feel alive. I create with the hope that my work brings something beautiful and uplifting into someone’s day. Whether it’s a spark of joy, a moment of calm, or just a splash of color that makes you pause—I want my art to connect with something real.

Now, I’m lucky enough to paint full-time, with collectors across the U.S. and in dozens of countries around the world. But more than anything, I still feel like that kid with a crayon, excited to create. I’m grateful to share this journey with you—and I hope you find something in my work that makes your world a little brighter.

For more information or custom order, please visit:
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Friday, July 11, 2025

💜 Where the Lavender Leads 💜

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


💜 Lavender In Provence 💜
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
202506030
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.
To purchase for your home, please visit: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/252780906

Our bikes race up and down the gentle hills of Provence.  Everything has a distinct texture, the colors are vibrant, and the perfume in the air is intoxicating.  And every twisting road we turn down has countless rows of purple and blue lavender.  The heat of the Mediterranean sun presses against our backs as we pedal back to the village of Sault.  I'll never forget the fields of France.

When was the last time you were truly relaxed?  You were without a care, no expectations, and free from electronic devices?  Maybe you were hiking, gardening, or reading a book with a cup of coffee.  When do you get to feel like you?  We have a lot to be grateful for.

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


Are you looking to grow your art collection without breaking the bank? Join us for the Artist Trading Card (& small art) Festival (Aug 4–6, 2025) — a vibrant virtual event where you can BUY, SELL, TRADE, and SHARE original mini masterpieces with artists from around the world. Handcrafted, affordable, and full of personality — it’s everything your collection didn’t know it needed. ✨ 👉 Are you ready to find your next tiny treasure?  RSVP at: https://www.facebook.com/events/582766991295652

My Story
Hi, I’m Mike the artist of Mike Kraus Art Inc.

I’ve been making art since I could hold a crayon. As a kid, I’d fill every notebook, homework margin, and scrap of paper with doodles. I sold my first artwork in junior high, sketching in class and handing off pieces between periods. That early love for making things never faded. I followed it all the way to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and eventually, I decided to stop treating art as a side hustle and make it my life’s work.

My paintings are full of energy, motion, and saturated color. I’m drawn to bold shapes and organic lines—forms that feel alive. I create with the hope that my work brings something beautiful and uplifting into someone’s day. Whether it’s a spark of joy, a moment of calm, or just a splash of color that makes you pause—I want my art to connect with something real.

Now, I’m lucky enough to paint full-time, with collectors across the U.S. and in dozens of countries around the world. But more than anything, I still feel like that kid with a crayon, excited to create. I’m grateful to share this journey with you—and I hope you find something in my work that makes your world a little brighter.

For more information or custom order, please visit:
at No comments:

Monday, February 17, 2025

🎓 Eckhart Hall at the University of Chicago 🎓

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


🎓 Eckhart Hall at the University of Chicago 🎓
Museum-quality posters made on thick matte paper
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.
To purchase for your home, please visit: 


And just like that, her son is a UChicago (https://www.uchicago.edu/) college graduate. Goodbye UChicago and hello Cornell (https://www.cornell.edu/)! She raised him right and shares in his early successes. And she wanted a piece to commemorate this impressive milestone. What an exciting time for this young man.

My Story
I’m Mike, the Artist of Mike Kraus Art Inc.

I’ve been making art since I was old enough to hold a crayon. I’d fill countless sketchbooks with drawings, cover school assignments with doodles, and publish magazines and print flyers for my friend’s bands. And then, I became an “adult…” The demands of food and rent seemed to require a “serious job.” For years, I languished in a cubicle performing meaningless tasks for a meager salary.

But, art was always my side hustle. I started selling my artwork in junior high between classes. I’d create original pieces during lectures and commissions instead of homework. Oddly enough, being a poor student is what got me into the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Inspired by my past history, I quit my career and took another part-time job as a cashier of a big-box store because it had the least amount of responsibility. The rest of my time I spent painting. After several months, I had to quit this low-wage job too because it was getting in the way of my art.

I decided to be a full-time professional artist. I needed the time to paint, collaborate with my patrons and galleries, and maintain my studio. Since then, I’ve sold thousands of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. I’m very fortunate to have a career dedicated to adding more beauty to the world. And I hope to share that experience with you.

For more information or custom order, please visit:
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Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Sunflowers and Lavender In Provence France

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Sunflowers and Lavender In Provence France
acrylic paint on canvas board
5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)
201907060
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc
To purchase for your home, please visit: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/720805149

Our bikes race up and down the gentle hills of Provence.  Everything has a distinct texture, the colors are vibrant, and the perfume in the air is intoxicating.  And every twisting road we turn down has countless rows of purple and blue lavender.  The heat of the Mediterranean sun presses against our backs as we pedal back to the village of Sault.  I'll never forget the fields of France.

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

ARTS o’ MAGAZINE:
☠ Skull & Crossbones Memory ☠:

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:
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Thursday, December 21, 2023

Alternative Investments Went On a Wild Ride During the Pandemic


Alternative Investments Went On a Wild Ride During the Pandemic


About 13 years ago, Nate Tobik was helping his parents move out of their old house. He and his wife were about to have their first kid, so he pulled some of his old Lego sets out of the attic. Over the next few years, Tobik and his family started putting those sets together.

“[We] started to look up missing pieces on eBay, and realized these things were going for a lot of money,” Tobik said.

Some of them were going for hundreds of dollars. Tobik said he saw a Lego train set with a crane on it that was going for over $1,000. He started buying up cheap Lego sets from local garage sales and thrift stores, and he’d sell them online — typically for double what he paid, at minimum.

But then, the pandemic happened, and a lot of people started selling their old Legos.

“I think it was people who were sitting around at home, started to look at what they had in the attic, and they said, ‘Wow, maybe I can do this, too,'” Tobik said.

People also realized how valuable their Legos were, and as they saw prices go up, they started selling their Legos for more, too. Suddenly, Tobik’s buy-low and sell-high investment strategy no longer worked.

“We couldn’t find anything at a deep enough discount to where we could sell it again, and lock in a profit,” Tobik said.

The same thing happened with the fantasy card game Magic: The Gathering, which has a strong secondary market for individual cards.

Seth Robertson has been playing the game for years, and he’d often buy up one or two extra boxes of cards hoping they’d appreciate in value. When the pandemic hit, card values skyrocketed.

“I remember seeing cards worth dollars going up to tens of dollars,” Robertson said. “It’s like the penny stocks of the collectible world.”

Robertson said that was great for anyone like him, who already owned lots of cards. But it wasn’t great for anyone who wanted to build up a deck to actually play the game.

“You don’t want every card you need for a 60-card deck costing tens of dollars, because people don’t have $500 to $1,000 to throw at a deck,” Robertson said. “That’s kind of crazy.”

Then, last year, Hasbro, the company that makes Magic cards, released more cards than usual. Later that year, a report from Bank of America accused Hasbro of overproducing cards, and diluting their value on the secondary market.

Robertson said he noticed.

“The cards that I bought mid to late pandemic have all come down in value,” Robertson said.

Hasbro didn’t comment for this story, but the company has denied over-printing cards. Hasbro has said it simply prints enough to meet demand.

Robertson said he’s no longer buying those extra boxes of cards as an investment.

“I’ve started to question that purchase because I know that that box is most likely not going to appreciate in value, and if anything, just decline the second I buy it,” Robertson said.

The pandemic also created some opportunities for people to pile in to other types of investments.

“If you’re interested in artwork, it’s the time to buy right now,” said Mike Kraus, an artist in Rochester, New York who’s been investing in art for around 25 years.

Kraus said galleries and art fairs basically shut down when the pandemic started, and many have struggled ever since. That’s meant that a lot of art just isn’t selling.

“There’s a glut of artwork to be had,” Kraus said. “I’ve been able to buy some pieces at very reasonable rates.”

Kraus said he typically spends between $100 to $500 on a piece of art. He said he’s bought anywhere between one and two hundred pieces over the last couple years, including drawings, paintings, jewelry and clothing.

Kraus said some of them will probably appreciate in value. But not all of them.

“If you group them up, build up a collection, it’s almost more like a mutual fund in that way,” Kraus said. “You spread the risk over all the pieces.”

But unlike a mutual fund, this is art we’re talking about. Kraus has to find a place to store it. But he said that’s a feature, not a bug.

“That’s the best part about it,” Kraus said. “I’m not looking at a ticker number. It’s on my wall. I get to see it, other people get to enjoy it.”

Kraus said he plans on holding on to most of his art for at least 10 years. If he doesn’t sell it, it’ll be a nice nest egg to pass on.

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Friday, December 15, 2023

On a New York City Street

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


On a New York City Street
acrylic paint on canvas
48" x 60" (121.92 cm x 152.4 cm) 
202311078
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.
For custom art for your home, please visit: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/186507940

This is what a love looks like in paint.  They wanted a "family portrait," but something more fun and emotional than a standard photograph.  After some discussion, we decided on a cityscape with graffiti that symbolizes what they enjoy and value in life.  

They and their five children created an extensive list of their beloved people, places, and things.  That inspired every detail of this large piece.  It's like a collage of experiences in their family's life.  Most are original and unique.  Others are from pop culture and other communities.  All of it is about their love of each other.   

See the how the piece was made at: 

Don't forget to sign up for the
❄☃❄ LAST MINUTE HOLIDAY ART FESTIVAL! ❄☃❄
It's the place to find and buy amazing art from over 1,000 artists. Browse unique, hand-crafted items in ceramics, jewelry, glass, mixed media, photography, wood, leather, fiber, metal, wearable art, digital art, paintings, prints and so much more!

This large piece started with small sketches

On a New York City Street #562
pen and ink on Bristol paper
2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION
202311079
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.
For custom art for your home, please visit: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/186507940



On a New York City Street #563
pen and ink on Bristol paper
2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION
202311080
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.
For custom art for your home, please visit: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/186507940

& Interview With Mike Kraus

Details from On a New York City Street











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:

at No comments:

Friday, July 21, 2023

Vitale Park at Conesus Lake

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Vitale Park at Conesus Lake
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
202307041
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

We decided to make this a lazy weekday by skipping work. Then took a relaxed commute to the lake for a BBQ. On the menu is bass, which we caught earlier in the morning. While it grills, we talk about nothing in particular. All the concerns of the world disappear as the sun sinks into the hills. The sky radiates colors and reminds us to be grateful.

What do you think about the artwork on your walls?  How do you capture your memories.  Does that make you happy?

JOIN US for the
ARTIST TRADING CARD (& small art) FESTIVAL! 
There will be lots of artists, collectors, traders, and more. How happy are you with your collection?

ARTS o’ MAGAZINE:
Culture of Community
https://medium.com/p/257f427421d5

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:
at No comments:

Friday, July 7, 2023

Owasco Lake

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Owasco Lake
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
202307034
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

The days of summer.  A time to appreciate all the wonderful moments we're experiencing.  The trips to the lake for boating and swimming.  And absorbing the light and warmth from the sun.  To reflect on how grateful we are for all that we have.

What do you think about the artwork on your walls?  How do you capture your memories.  Does that make you happy?

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:
at No comments:

Monday, March 13, 2023

Aurora Borealis Over the Rocky Mountains

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Aurora Borealis Over the Rocky Mountains
acrylic paint of canvas board
5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)
201804055
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.
Our car whined climbing the steep roads of the Rocky Mountains and the headlights only seemed to  illuminate the black void of the sky.  Twists and turns around every rock.  Just inches from the road were cliffs with no bottom.  As we came out of a tunnel, the sky flashed and danced with vibrant colors and unusual shapes.  We pulled off the desolate road and just watched the sky for hours.

This piece would look best in a space that is dark red, orange, yellow, green, 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:



at No comments:

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

On the Green of St. Andrews Golf Course

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


On the Green of St. Andrews Golf Course
acrylic paint on canvas board
5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)
201808105
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

The final hole on the Old Course at St. Andrews Golf Course; "Cathedral of Golf."  In 1764, William St. Clair of Rosslyn decided to alter the course to have the standard 18-holes we have today.  And it has hosted 29 Open Championships since 1873.  That sense of history is felt with every footstep as I carry my golf bag down each fairway and over ancient bridges.  And I have a lot of time to ponder the days of yore when I'm in the "road bunker..."

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

Please listen to my 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 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:
at No comments:
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