Aurora Borealis Over Lake Michigan

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Aurora Borealis Over Lake Michigan

acrylic paint on canvas board

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

201711120

© copyright Michael Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/626210526/aurora-borealis-over-lake-michigan

The lights of the city are far from the gently waves splashing on the fine sand beach.  That darkness allows me a brief glimpse of the magic of the skies our ancestors saw before industrialization.  All the greens, pinks, and blues swirling around as if propelled by the soft breeze.  My thoughts evaporate and my eyes absorb this obscured enchantment of the heavens.  Everything is right as my body sinks into the sand and takes in the celestial.

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 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

Three Boats In the Harbor

 Three Boats In the Harbor, about 1990s

oil painting on canvas 

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

To purchase, please visit:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/243811153/three-boats-in-the-harbor-original-oil

Where Can I Find Art?  A good place to start is online.  Especially if you're not sure what you're looking for.  Randomly visit pages on  Etsy.com, SaatchiArt.com, Sothebys.com, and even Craigslist.com to see what artists are making.  You may not find what you are looking for, but you may discover the styles and subjects you want.  And that's a great step forward.

Social media can be a wonderful tool for finding and purchasing artwork too.  If you find an artist you like, you should follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, or any other places you have in common.  Many artists will share their latest pieces, upcoming shows, or give insights into their work.

While New York City, Paris, and London are famous for their galleries, many towns have galleries of their own with a range of local and international artists.  Art festivals and craft fairs are popular annual events that can sometimes travel around the country.  Many artists have studios that are open to the public.  Shows, events, and studios are great places to visit when you're on vacation too. 

It's also important just to keep your eyes open when going around town.  Does the cafe where you get your coffee in the morning have pieces for sale on the walls?  What are those paintings in the garage sale or thrift store?  Does the pieces in your favorite restaurant have price tags on them?  Interesting artwork can show up in unique places.  And the more unique, the better the story usually is.  (more at: http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/how-to-use-original-artwork-in-your.html)

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

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/

The Cottage

The Cottage, 2017

acrylic painting on canvas board

14" x 18" (35.6 cm x 45.7 cm)

© copyright Mike Kraus

201706067

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

What place is special to you?  Is it a location that you use to visit frequently as a child?  Maybe it's where you got engaged?  Perhaps it's somewhere you go with your pet.  Commissioning a piece is a great way to celebrate your unique place on this earth.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

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

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

Rochester Contemporary Arts Center (RoCo)  137 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604 (585) 461-2222 http://www.rochestercontemporary.org/

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

March of the Penguins

This is one of our newest acquisitions to our art collection.  Obviously, its a bunch of penguins painted by Megan's great grandma "Baba," from an experience she had cruising around the world.  

Not too much to report.  Dishwasher is now fixed.  No need for a new one as it was just a blown fuse.  Thank for all the help and advice on that.  Otherwise, been laying around the house.  Last weekend I was pretty sick with a cold and ended up reading tons of Harry Potter (I'm on the Half-Blood Prince for those keeping track) and the entire first season of Meerkat Manor.  I'm no longer contagious and the medicine seems to be doings its trick.  But, it's still lingering.  Maybe I'll be healthy this weekend?