Total Solar Eclipse

 Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Total Solar Eclipse
acrylic paint on canvas board
202404011
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your home, please visit: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/210510047

Where were you on April 8th, 2024?  Did you actually "see" the moon passing in front of the sun or did you only "look" at the eclipse?  What did you notice about the sky as it began to converge?  Did you hear the crickets chirp and the birds go silent?  What about the colors and shadows?

How did the solar eclipse make you feel?

Total Solar Eclipse

acrylic paint on canvas board

202404012

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

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your home, please visit: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/1483662829

COME TO THE allFREEDOM SUMMER PARTY!

It's all about making friends and having fun at:

https://www.facebook.com/events/7494125563997105

ARTS o’ MAGAZINE:

🎨 Where To Start a Creative Art Business 🎨:

https://medium.com/arts-o-magazine/where-to-start-a-creative-art-business-fb8867dec221?sk=3910f0d8bfc2fe700c909f51ce8ebc83

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:

Store: http://MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/BrightscapesArt/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

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

Total Solar Eclipse

 Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Total Solar Eclipse
acrylic paint on canvas board
202404008
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your home, please visit: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/248928242

A total solar eclipse will take place at the Moon's ascending node on Monday, April 8, 2024, visible across North America and dubbed the Great North American Eclipse (also Great American Total Solar Eclipse and Great American Eclipse) by some of the media. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby obscuring the image of the Sun for a viewer on Earth. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's apparent diameter is larger than the Sun's, blocking all direct sunlight, turning day into darkness. Totality occurs only in a narrow path across Earth's surface, with the partial solar eclipse visible over a surrounding region thousands of kilometres wide. (from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_April_8,_2024)

For more information, please visit: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/

Total Solar Eclipse

acrylic paint on canvas board

202404009

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

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your home, please visit: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/1487002319

Total Solar Eclipse

acrylic paint on canvas board

202404010

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

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your home, please visit: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/213712985

📻 Listen to my interview on NPR's Marketplace at 📻: https://www.marketplace.org/2023/12/19/alternative-investments-went-on-a-wild-ride-during-the-pandemic/

ARTS o’ MAGAZINE:

📢 ESTATE SALE! Today 10am-3pm 📢: 

https://medium.com/arts-o-magazine/estate-sale-today-10am-3pm-864c65a8c544?sk=a63627462f1337f9443f645eef371727

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:

Store: http://MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/BrightscapesArt/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

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

Sun Setting From the Hilltop

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Sun Setting From the Hilltop

acrylic paint on canvas board

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

201710103

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/551814492/original-acrylic-painting-sun-setting

Are there any reasons to buy reproductions?  Of course!  For example, when I moved out of my small apartment into my first house there were so many empty walls.  And I'm an artist.  I hung some of my work and filled in the rest of the void with reproductions because I was on a budget.  But, over time, I've collected and made new pieces to replace tattered posters.

Let's say you love a piece and there's no way you can afford it.  The Sistine Chapel inspires you, the Pope refuses to sell it to you, and Michelangelo is permanently retired from making art.  A reproduction is your best option.

Temporary spaces demand temporary art.  You know you won't be living in a college dorm next year.  You're planning on looking for a new job and a cubicle isn't a safe place for valuables.  Maybe you're just staging a house to sell.  Whatever the reason, you're not going to be there long.

Valuables shouldn't be here.  A factory floor with forklifts and other heavy equipment might not be the safest place for your investment.  Maybe you plan on using the space as a kid's playroom full of markers, crayons, and toys that could be thrown at delicate objects?  It could be that you smoke, the air is dirty, or constant high humidity in your basement.  There's nothing wrong with posters in these situations. 

Please visit: http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/art-investing.html for some advice to consider in purchasing original artwork.

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.

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

Sun Setting From the Hilltop

Sun Setting From the Hilltop, 2017

acrylic paint on canvas board

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

201710103

© copyright Michael Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/551814492/original-acrylic-painting-sun-setting

Are there any reasons to buy reproductions?  Of course!  For example, when I moved out of my small apartment into my first house there were so many empty walls.  And I'm an artist.  I hung some of my work and filled in the rest of the void with reproductions because I was on a budget.  But, over time, I've collected and made new pieces to replace tattered posters.

Let's say you love a piece and there's no way you can afford it.  The Sistine Chapel inspires you, the Pope refuses to sell it to you, and Michelangelo is permanently retired from making art.  A reproduction is your best option.

Temporary spaces demand temporary art.  You know you won't be living in a college dorm next year.  You're planning on looking for a new job and a cubicle isn't a safe place for valuables.  Maybe you're just staging a house to sell.  Whatever the reason, you're not going to be there long.

Valuables shouldn't be here.  A factory floor with forklifts and other heavy equipment might not be the safest place for your investment.  Maybe you plan on using the space as a kid's playroom full of markers, crayons, and toys that could be thrown at delicate objects?  It could be that you smoke, the air is dirty, or constant high humidity in your basement.  There's nothing wrong with posters in these situations. 

Please visit: http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/art-investing.html for some advice to consider in purchasing original artwork.

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

See my work in person at these locations:

Havana Night Gala - Baden Street Settlement Holiday Inn Rochester, NY-Downtown 70 State St, Rochester, NY 14614 http://badenstreet.org/2017-annual-gala/

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/

Why You Shouldn't Slide Down the Bannister

EPIC RAIL SLIDE!  Watch the top left corner of the screen.  If you're going to get banned-for-life from a stadium, this is a monumental way to do it.

It's not even 5:30pm and this is what it looks like already?  Gonna be a loooooong winter...

Scout spent a whole morning chasing leaves while I raked them.  

SURPRISE VISITOR!  Gertie gets to spend the night at our house tonight.  It's amazing how still they are when a treat is visible.

Get well soon, Marianne!

That's all there is to report this week.  But, after the rail slide video, everything else seems lame...

Spring Is the New Summer

Pure joy when it is 70 degrees in mid-March.  Mike's wife can then bring him to Indian Landing School playground.


The wife


HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEE!!!  Notice her puppy shaped flower arrangement


My new favorite corporate logo.  It's for Moonshine BBQ and I can't wait to go here for our 2nd anniversary!


How New Yorkers fix potholes.  


Thank you daylight savings.  Someday, I will run for office and my platform will be solely advocating for daylight savings time to be year round.  And, why not move it ahead two hours?  

Fooooood...