Watkins Glen

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

 Watkins Glen, 2018

acrylic paint on canvas board

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

201801013

© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/232334744/watkins-glen-original-acrylic-painting-8

The birds and chipmunks scurry through the leaves as we climb up the gorge.  Not too far away is the gentle crashing of a waterfall.  Step-by-step, our feet press forward as we make our way up the stairs and down the paths.  As we take a short break, we comment on how the rocks are stacked like books waiting to be placed back on the shelves.  After a little more walking, you can really take it all in at Point Lookout.

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

Store: MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

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A View of the Blue Mountains of the Adirondacks

A View of the Blue Mountains of the Adirondacks, 2015

Acrylic on canvas 

16" x 20" in a frame (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm in a frame)

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/234191209/a-view-of-the-blue-mountains-of-the

This painting was featured at:

BRIGHTSCAPES

Canandaigua National Bank and Trust

210 Alexander Street

Rochester, NY 14607 USA

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

It was a steep and treacherous hike up the mountain in the Adirondacks.  A wild region full of deer, herons, and chipmunks.  You may even find a moose, coyote, or black bear on these trails.  The dense pine forest opens up to a meadow full of brisk autumn air.  There is a startling calmness.  And from this view, it's as if we can see all six million acres of this park.

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

A View of the Blue Mountains of the Adirondacks

A View of the Blue Mountains of the Adirondacks, 2016

Acrylic on canvas 

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

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/184035042/a-view-of-the-blue-mountains-of-the

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

It was a steep and treacherous hike up the mountain in the Adirondacks.  A wild region full of deer, herons, and chipmunks.  You may even find a moose, coyote, or black bear on these trails.  The dense pine forest opens up to a meadow full of brisk autumn air.  There is a startling calmness.  And from this view, it's as if we can see all six million acres of this park.

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

A View of the Blue Mountains of the Adirondacks

A View of the Blue Mountains of the Adirondacks, 2016

Acrylic on canvas board

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

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/251866385/a-view-of-the-blue-mountains-of-the

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

It was a steep and treacherous hike up the mountain in the Adirondacks.  A wild region full of deer, herons, and chipmunks.  You may even find a moose, coyote, or black bear on these trails.  The dense pine forest opens up to a meadow full of brisk autumn air.  There is a startling calmness.  And from this view, it's as if we can see all six million acres of this park.

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

Autumn In the Adirondacks

Autumn In the Adirondacks, 2015

Acrylic on canvas

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

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/254038452/autumn-in-the-adirondacks-original

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

It was a steep and treacherous hike up the mountain in the Adirondacks.  A wild region full of deer, herons, and chipmunks.  You may even find a moose, coyote, or black bear on these trails.  The dense pine forest opens up to a meadow full of brisk autumn air.  There is a startling calmness.  And from this view, it's as if we can see all six million acres of this park.

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

Autumn In the Adirondacks

Autumn In the Adirondacks, 2015

Acrylic on canvas in a handcrafted Gianluca Moretti frame

8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm) in a 12" x 14" (30.5 cm x 35.6 cm) frame 

© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/254038452/autumn-in-the-adirondacks-original

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

It was a steep and treacherous hike up the mountain in the Adirondacks.  A wild region full of deer, herons, and chipmunks.  You may even find a moose, coyote, or black bear on these trails.  The dense pine forest opens up to a meadow full of brisk autumn air.  There is a startling calmness.  And from this view, it's as if we can see all six million acres of this park.

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.

FREE SHIPPING IN THE UNITED STATES!

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

A View of the Blue Mountains of the Adirondacks

A View of the Blue Mountains of the Adirondacks, 2015

Acrylic on canvas

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

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/251866385/a-view-of-the-blue-mountains-of-the?ref=shop_home_active_1

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

It was a steep and treacherous hike up the mountain in the Adirondacks.  A wild region full of deer, herons, and chipmunks.  You may even find a moose, coyote, or black bear on these trails.  The dense pine forest opens up to a meadow full of brisk autumn air.  There is a startling calmness.  And from this view, it's as if we can see all six million acres of this park.

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

A View of the Blue Mountains of the Adirondacks

A View of the Blue Mountains of the Adirondacks, 2015

Acrylic on canvas

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

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/234191209/a-view-of-the-blue-mountains-of-the?ref=listings_manager_grid

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

It was a steep and treacherous hike up the mountain in the Adirondacks.  A wild region full of deer, herons, and chipmunks.  You may even find a moose, coyote, or black bear on these trails.  The dense pine forest opens up to a meadow full of brisk autumn air.  There is a startling calmness.  And from this view, it's as if we can see all six million acres of this park.

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

A View of the Blue Mountains of the Adirondacks

A View of the Blue Mountains of the Adirondacks, 2015

Acrylic on canvas 

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

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/234191209/a-view-of-the-blue-mountains-of-the

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

It was a steep and treacherous hike up the mountain in the Adirondacks.  A wild region full of deer, herons, and chipmunks.  You may even find a moose, coyote, or black bear on these trails.  The dense pine forest opens up to a meadow full of brisk autumn air.  The lake below is startling in its calmness.  And from this view, it's as if we can see all six million acres of this park.

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:

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

I < 3 NY - Part Three - Lucifer Falls in Ithaca

Just a short drive from our campsite is another state park.  This time, it's Robert H. Treman State Park (http://nysparks.com/parks/135/details.aspx)

Enfield Creek flows over the road.  Luckily, there's a bridge for pedestrians.

Once again, "Rim Trail" means you'll be climbing a steep hill up for a while.  And, it's worth it.  Below is Megan's dream camping cabin overlooking a waterfall.

The lower falls

For some reason, this one specific tree is targeted for carving.

Three things I've learned while living in upstate New York: 1) Upstate New York has a lot of waterfalls, 2) New Yorkers are not impressed with waterfalls, 3) the same can be said about slate rock.

Base of Lucifer Falls

Cliff Staircase which is a lot of steps...

"This Glen's singular charm was recognized and rescued for the people of New York by ROBERT and LAURA TREMAN some of whose friends set this tablet here in loving appreciation of their gift of Enfield Gorge to us all." 

View from the Cliff Staircase

Megan, Scout, and I with Lucifer Falls behind us.  The woman who took this picture just happened to be running by and was kind enough to take this for us.

"OH MY GOD!  Is that the running lady who took our picture over there!!!"  Yes it is!  Somehow, she was able to race down the cliff staircase, across the river, and up the gorge trail in a matter of minutes.  It blew my mind.  We saw her again at the end of the trail and she says she runs this park everyday.  We should have gotten her autograph because she should be an Olympian or something.

Lucifer Falls from the top.

Butts.  Is this for puppy butts too?

 Old Mill

This place really impressed me.  Probably because I was born during the wrong time and probably been very good at running an operation like this.

Unfortunately, we've had some very severe storms recently (damn you global climate change!) and it took out much of the really awesome parts of the Upper Gorge Trail.  But, it's a great excuse to visit again when it is rebuilt.

Into the gorge leading to Lucifer Falls.

Bridge over Enfield Creek

Back at Lucifer Falls from the other side of the gorge.

 Trail closed...

We had to carry Scout on this part of the trail because she really likes to sightsee.  She'd jump on all the walls to see what we were looking at.  Also, she's not afraid of cliffs.  So, to save ourselves from a sad vacation, we had to carry her up part of the gorge.

"SCOUT!  How are you missing the frog?"

Cliff wall along the Enfield Gorge

"Family portrait" while resting our sore feet in the creek.

Megan and Scout

Oh la la!

Scout gets goofier every day...

Parking garage mural art.   Very whimsical.

The Commons Pedestrian Mall in downtown Ithaca is being rebuilt (http://www.sasaki.com/project/85/ithaca-commons-redesign/)

Lots of great old buildings in the city.

Viva! Taqueria (http://www.vivataqueria.com/) was necessary after our hike.

Me: If this is the only time I'll ever come here, what should I get?

Waitress:  Um...  Well, it's all good.  But, I'd get something with the mole

She was right.  Get something with the mole.  In fact, buy extra mole to bring home.  It's $1.50 for 4 ounces.

Poor sleepy Scout.

Mmmm...  More brats, veggie delights, and corn on the cob from the grill.  It was awesome corn.

She was so tired that she put herself to sleep that night.  Megan went to get something from the tent and she made a beeline to her crate.  Too many chipmunks and not enough naps...

If you visit Buttermilk Falls State Park and still see this tent, I wouldn't be surprised.  We saw the family one time the entire trip and their campsite was untouched.  I think this was their first time camping and they said, "This is camping?  I hate it.  Let's stay at a hotel" and left the scene.  If that's the case, I missed out on some good free camping gear...

Part One: Albany

http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2014/07/i-3-ny-part-one-albany.html

Part Two: Buttermilk Falls In Ithaca

http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2014/07/i-3-ny-part-two-buttermilk-falls-in.html

Part Four: Taughannock Falls In Ithaca

http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2014/07/i-3-ny-part-four-taughannock-falls-in.html