Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts

Monday, March 18, 2024

🌞😎🌳 You're Invited To the BRING SPRING ART FESTIVAL! 🌳😎🌞

  Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


You're Invited to the
🌞😎🌳 BRING SPRING ART FESTIVAL! 🌳😎🌞

The sunlight pierces the grey winter clouds as they give way to the warmth of Spring.  All that was lifeless is reborn as green buds and flower blooms begin to appear.  And we feel happiness with the fresh air and singing birds.

Spring is the time to refresh your home or office. To make a list of all the small projects that need attention. Or to contact a designer to completely update your space. Maybe you're selling your home and you need something unique to stand out. Converting a space to show who you really are is inspiring.

Let's have fun as we emerge from our hibernation.  To find hope in a new season.  And to share in each other's happiness.

Join us at the:
🌞😎🌳 BRING SPRING ART FESTIVAL! 🌳😎🌞

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.

Monday, November 6, 2023

🍂🦃🍁 How Does Autumn Make You Feel? 🍁🦃🍂 

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


My dog runs toward the orchard as we emerge from our hike in the brightly colored forest.  Everything is vibrant as the sun's rays pass through the red, orange, and yellow leaves.  And it continues as we walk through the countless rows of apple trees.  We select the best fruit for cakes, tarts, and other treats on chilly nights.  Something that will pair perfectly with cocoa and movies.

How does autumn make you feel?  It's a season of transformation and reflection.  A time to break out our sweaters and absorb every bit of warm sunlight before winter arrives.  

Let's find ways to enjoy this fall season.  To make our home a special place for the people we love. 


Mike Kraus
MikeKrausArt.etsy.com


Come to the 
🍂🦃🍁
GRATEFUL ART FESTIVAL! 🍁🦃🍂 
https://www.facebook.com/events/1043451673463521

The Grateful Art Festival is 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!


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:

Monday, October 2, 2023

🍂🍁 You're Invited To the FABULOUS FALL ART FESTIVAL! 🍁🍂

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


You're Invited
to the
FABULOUS FALL ART FESTIVAL! 

Is your autumn off to a good start?  Have you decorated your home and updated your wardrobe for the cozy season yet?  Join over a thousand artists as they share their unique creations.  You'll find ceramics, jewelry, glass, mixed media, photography, wood, leather, fiber, metal, wearable art, digital art, paintings, prints and so much more!  Are you happy with your collection?  
Now open at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1934458910278595

Mike Kraus
MikeKrausArt.etsy.com


ARTS o’ MAGAZINE:
🐱 Working With Artists Is Like Herding Cats 🐱
https://medium.com/p/45a8078ba8b7


Sign up now for the Grateful Art Festival opening November 27th at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1043451673463521


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:

Monday, September 11, 2023

🍂🍁 Join us at the AWESOME AUTUMN ART FESTIVAL! 🍁🍂

  Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Join us now
for the
AWESOME AUTUMN ART FESTIVAL! 

The party is at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1934458910278595 This is the place to find and buy amazing art. 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!

Mike Kraus
MikeKrausArt.etsy.com


ARTS o’ MAGAZINE:
Art Is a Gift
https://medium.com/p/b65c92288e5


Sign up now for the Fabulous Fall Art Festival at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1421541185245595


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:

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Thousand Island Sunset

Thousand Island Sunset, 2017
acrylic on canvas
16" x 20" (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm)
201708082
© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please contact: 
https://www.whitmanworks.com/art-products?category=Mike+Kraus
Whitman Works Co1826 Penfield Rd, Penfield, NY 14526 (585) 747-9999 https://www.whitmanworks.com/

SHOW TONIGHT!
This Thousand Island Sunset piece is a Whitman Works Co. Exclusive.  And tonight is a great night to stop in the gallery to view it as Jim Buscemi has his opening!


(Penfield, NY) Whitman Works Company is pleased to present the gallery's first exhibition of local photography by East Rochester native, Jim Buscemi. Mr Buscemi will be showing the breadth of his work in Sports, Wildlife and Landscape images with a primary focus on Western New York themes. The photographer will be in residence for the opening of the exhibit on August 16, 2017 from 6 PM to 9 PM. The show will continue in the Whitman Works Company Gallery through September 6th. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 AM – 6 PM. For additional information please visit the gallery shop in person or online.


About the artist: Born and raised in East Rochester, Jim Buscemi currently resides in Fairport, N.Y. with his wife Jennifer, step-daughter Rena, and their german shepard mix Tripp. Jim started his journey in photography at the age of 8 when his parents gave him his first camera, a Kodak Instamatic. After graduating from high school, he purchased a Minolta 35mm and used this through his college years. A Nikon 3000 and Canon T3i are now his primary tools of the trade.

You can follow Jim Buscemi on Facebook (Jim Buscemi), Instagram (@jbusc_33), and Twitter (@Jbusc33).

More info at


For more information or custom order, please visit:
Google+: http://plus.google.com/111168390406803022323/posts




Accidentally took a pic of Carol's new "office" at Whitman Works.  But, there's something charming about it and thought I'd share this too.

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Danube Reflection - Grein, Austria


WELCOME TO GREIN, AUSTRIA! A small village of about 2,900 people on the Danube River. Grein roughly translates into "shriek" or "scream" in old German. The Danube use to be very treacherous here and the city was named after shipwrecked sailors yelling and their widow's cries. 




Stadttheater Grein. Notice the three dates on the building. 1468 was the year it was constructed as a granery. 1563 is when it became a rathhaus (city hall). 1791 is when it installed a theater. Emperor Josef II encouraged the construction of theaters so the proceeds could be used to fund poor houses. A cause that was really supported by citizens after a major flood. 


Inside Stadttheater Grein, the oldest theater in Austria. Lots of funny and interesting facts about this theater. The first couple of rows had an early form of season ticket holders. To guarantee your seat, you were given a key. When you weren't at the show, you'd fold your seat to the back and lock it so there was no place for a person to sit. 

Shows use to be very, very long. So, there's a small bathroom located stage right for the audience. The only barrier was a small curtain. This meant if an exciting, funny, or climatic scene was about to happen you could peek out the curtain and not miss a thing. "It didn't smell nice near the bathroom, so these seats were cheaper..."

This building also had a small jail that was located stage left. To keep the prisoners entertained, they gnawed a hole in the wall so they could watch from their cell. The audience was very kind to the prisoners bringing them food and drinks during the show. A somewhat selfish gesture though because this was to prevent them from yelling and disrupting the show.

I think this is my favorite theater.

St. Giles Church - Saint Giles was a hermit living in the woods of Septimania and Provence. He foraged for food and drank the milk from a deer. Because of this, St. Giles is the patron saint of lactating mothers.

Looking toward the Danube from Böhmergasse

View of the Wachau Valley from the Grein cemetery.

View of the Danube from the grounds of Schloss Greinburg

View of old town with mist rising of the mountains in the background.

DANCE PARTY ON THE CRUISE!

And yes, Marianne is to the far left dancing with her tiny hands... YEAH!!!

More vacation posts at:

Monday, September 19, 2016

THANKS KETTLEFEST!

Photo credit: Laurie Dirkx (http://www.lauriedirkx.com/)

Had a great time at KettleFest (http://www.kettlefest.com/) this weekend at Kettle Ridge Farm (http://www.kettleridgefarm.com/).  Met a lot of great people, made lots of sales, and discovered Pie on a Stick (https://www.facebook.com/starlabakeandbrew/).  Thanks to Joe and Chris Hurley for putting on such a wonderful event.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Willkommen in Deutschland!

More flashbacks!  In the summer of 1998, I was fortunate enough to stay with the Pöselt family in Germany.  Elmar Pöselt was an exchange student in my high school.  We had 8th hour history class and he caught my attention because he slept through every single class and no one cared.  I saw him in the lunchroom (awake) and invited him to sit with us and learned he was from Germany.  We also learned that the family he was staying with thought he was an indentured servant and that every Friday was "Hamburger Night," which he discovered no other American knew what the hell that meant.  So, I kidnapped him from his host family most nights until he pretty much lived at my house.  Going to Germany was an eye opening experience to the world that I will forever be grateful to Elmar, his family, and for my parents for allowing me to go.

Some village outside of Hamburg, Germany (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburgright after my plane landed.  Behind the little red car is Herr Horst Pöselt, Elmar's dad.  His family must of thought I was very unimpressed with Germany when they gave me the grand tour.  I didn't sleep at all on the plane because an elderly eastern European woman kept falling asleep on my shoulder and drooling.  But, the airline did upgrade my seat and gave me free wine and cookies once we were over international waters.  So...


Anyway, in this little village was a butcher that sold us the best ham ever.  It was cured for five years (or something crazy like that) and I ate it almost every day for breakfast.  We also went to a cafe that was in a building constructed in 1262 (again, or something crazy like that).  It was my first physical piece of evidence that something existed before the Europeans came to the Americas. 

The Pöselt household in Volksdorf (northern Hamburg) (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburg-Volksdorf) where I stayed for most of the duration of my trip.  

The side patio.  On the first night at their house, the family wanted me to feel welcome and we were going to have hamburgers for dinner.  Frau Pöselt drove several hours to some American air force base grocery store to purchase the worst hamburger buns in the world (how our service men and women do it, I'll never understand) for just this occasion.  She bought all the ketchup, mustard, and toppings no matter how difficult it was to procure.  Unfortunately, none of us made burgers before.  Either my mom made them or I went to Burger King.  So, I cooked terrible burgers on the littlest Weber grill ever .  I knew I had to learn a new skill before I went to college...

The view of the little gardening shed from the patio.  To the left is the neighbor's that had a Jack Russell Terrier named Caesar.  A very smart and trouble-making dog.  Our neighbors currently have one and it reminds me of Germany every time he bothers Scout or bounces around my yard. 

There was also some kind of a private club nearby where the public could swim, but only the members could swim naked (or play bocce ball).  Anyway, we could hear them playing music and one night there was some Oom- pah music and I said "I know this one.  It's the Chicken Dance song."  No one knew what I was talking about.  So, I performed the dance for them and ruined German culture forever.  

Another shot of the Pöselt household.  That's all my photos of Hamburg.  I can't tell you how heartbreaking that is to me.  Unknown to me, my camera broke.  It acted like it was functioning properly, but the crank on the film snapped.  So, I'd take a picture, roll the film (which never rolled), and took another picture on top of the old one.  So, there are three rolls of photos that have layered images like a Rauschenberg silkscreen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rauschenberg) (yeah, I have to use my art degree somehow).  So, all the photos of downtown, the fish market where I caught two eels (http://www.hamburg-travel.com/attractions/best-of-hamburg/fish-market/), the fair, canoeing in the Elbe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbe), the Reeperbahn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reeperbahn), parties, Florian's drinking tent in the woods, and so much else vaporized.  But, I still haven't forgotten a moment and Herr Pöselt was kind enough to buy a wonderful Hamburg photo book as a memento.

Took my first bullet train from Hamburg to Frankfurt, which was awesome (made me never want to fly again).  Frankfurt to Mannheim.  Mannheim to Heidelberg.  Didn't realize it at the time, but Frankfurt was only 64 miles (103km) away from the Kraus Family Farm in Köthen, Motten, Germany.  

Anyway, this is the house we stayed at in Heidelberg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg) on Markscheide.  I don't recall how Elmar knew the family, but the parents were gone the entire time and their daughter had parties there every night.  

The view from the bedroom/roof.  I'd sit on the roof whenever there was some down time or waiting for Elmar.  The neighbor at the closest house was a friend of the daughter who lived at the house I stayed at.  We'd talk whenever we'd see each other.  It wasn't much since they didn't know English and I butchered the German language.

Another view from the house.  Elmar and I stole a couple of bikes in the garage (could of been worse since we could have taken the fine German luxury cars) and rode into the mountains.  There were all sorts of trails and forgotten fortresses.  After a while, there was an old farmhouse that was also a restaurant.  I've never had desserts like that before or since (http://www.bierhelderhof.de/).

Heading into town.  At the end of the street is a convenience store and the streetcar.  They were having record breaking heat that year and we'd buy mixed drinks in a can every morning (not very hydrating).  It was years before you could get that in the United States and the selection is still minimal.  Anyway, if you are ever in Heidelberg, you have to eat at the Taj Mahal (http://www.tajmahal-heidelberg.de/).  You've never had Indian food that is so good, so cheap, or in such large portions.  I'd suggest the curry chicken.  I made Elmar laugh since my only previous experience with Indian food was what I saw in Indiana Jones.

Heidelberg!  The Jesuit Church is to the left and the Church of the Holy Spirit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Holy_Spirit,_Heidelbergis to the right.  The Neckar River (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neckar), which is part of the Rhine, cuts through town.  Somewhere down there is a great candy store with the strangest products and displays.  I remember a crazy dentist scene and piles of candy everywhere.  It doesn't happen to me often, but I was overwhelmed.  Very impressive (http://www.heidelberger-zuckerladen.de/).  

This is the main square outside of the Church of the Holy Spirit.  They had a farmer's market there pretty much all the time and that's usually where we got lunch.  This is where I learned that I loved to walk.  This whole area is car-free and pedestrian friendly.  That played a large part why I decided to live in Chicago later and what I miss most living in Rochester.  

Heidelberg again.  But, the girl we stayed with took a day trip to Mannheim and we were invited to join them at some lake.  Waiting to enter, I was stung by a very angular hornet (it looked like a mini stealth fighter).  Anyway, I was swimming when the venom started to take hold.  I thought I was going to drown and crawled onto the beach.  The lifeguard's solution was to get me a huge pile of french fries.  Best medicine ever.  

Madonna Fountain in Kornmarkt.  Up the hill is Heidelberg Castle (Heidelberger Schloss) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg_Castle), which you'll see quite a bit of.

Ahh, a view of Heidelberg from the castle.

Ahh, another slightly further view from the castle.  This one features a cannon and the place where I took the previous photo...  Now you know why I'm so upset about losing all the really fun shots to a broken camera.

The Otto-Heinrich building in Heidelberg Castle (what would I do if I didn't have the internet to tell me that).  Not sure if this is where the huge wine barrel was located.  Known at the Heidelberg Tun, it contained nearly 222,000 liters of wine, about three stories tall (on its side), and had a dance floor constructed on top of it (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg_Tun)   

One of the few survivors.  Most of the photos from the reels of film either look fine or look like a mess.  Imagine all the photos you've seen so far compressed into one shot.  This was an early victim with some exposure issues.  Still pretty even with the lava from hell at the bottom.

Another shot of the castle.  I don't remember if we were coming or going, but we walked up to the castle from Karlsplatz.  They had trams and all sorts of ways to get up there, but walking was great and pretty interesting.  A lot less tourists too.

I once heard that "photographs change your memories."  Instead of remembering what really happened, your brain starts to replace that memory with the memories of photographs you took of that moment.  I believe that because this guy at the bottom always comes to mind when I think of my time in Germany.  

Finally, Elmar in front of Heidelberg Castle.  I'm so fortunate to have met Elmar.  Not only because of this trip, but all the great times we had in Michigan too.  There were lots of nights where we'd just drive around Muskegon in my old Volkswagen with no destination.  Other times, we'd end up at a party in the woods or a bonfire at the beach.  The weekend trip we took to Mackinac Island and discovered that it was infested with bats (and that fudge isn't much more than just a block of chocolate).  Thanks again Elmar, the Pöselt family, and to my parents for letting this adventure happen.  I hope to see you all again soon!

P.S. - At my going away dinner at the Chinese restaurant, thank you for not letting me order two egg rolls.  I didn't know that they were the size of an American football.

P.P.S.-Elmar, thank you for the 3-liter of rum and coke on the flight home.  It should be standard issue for international flights.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Ducks On the Pond. Trout In Left.

Ducks On the Pond.  Trout In Left., 2014
photograph 
© copyright Mike Kraus

I always have my camera with me to catch these moments.  A few ducks on perfectly blue water with fish just below the surface.  It’s almost abstract and painterly.  Easy to fall into reverie.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

R.I.P. Good Friend...


RIP good friend. He died at the Chicago Bulls game last friday. This Kodak EasyShare CX7530 5.0 megapixel camera was the best camera I've ever had. I beat the hell out of it and it should have died sometime in the summer of 2005. I've dropped it in sand, spilt all kinds of liquids on it, and all sorts of other things. The hard drive and all still works, but the lens refuses to open anymore. With that said, that means there probably won't be many photo blogs in the near future.

*Kodak, if you would like to sponsor my blog, I'm willing to negotiate...


The last image taken on my little Kodak. Batman riding My Little Pony off into the sunset...

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