Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Field of Lavender

Field of Lavender, 2017
acrylic paint on canvas board
5" x 7"  (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)
201708081
© copyright Michael Kraus

What are the benefits of buying original art?  There are countless benefits to owning original artwork.  Generally, most reasons fall into one of the categories of Style, Originality, Texture/Depth, History, Emotional, Investment and Fun.

Texture/Depth - Artwork are physical objects that fill space.  A sculpture has volume on a table.  A painting on a canvas and framed extends from the wall.  Even the paint has thickness depending on the use of impasto.  A poster is only as thick as the piece of paper it's printed on.

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

 This painting would look best in an average sized space.  It would work best with the colors red, green, yellow, orange, blue, dark purple, black, white, gray, beige, or wood.

For more information or custom order, please visit:


Want to see my work in person?  Then visit these locations:
Kettle Fest at Kettle Ridge Farm Saturday, September 16, 2017 Kettle Ridge Farm 515 Log Cabin Road, Victor, NY 14564 http://www.kettlefest.com

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/






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Monday, August 28, 2017

Otisco Lake

Otisco Lake, 2017
acrylic paint on canvas board
16" x 20" (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm)
201708087
© copyright Mike Kraus

What are the benefits of buying original art?  There are countless benefits to owning original artwork.  Generally, most reasons fall into one of the categories of Style, Originality, Texture/Depth, History, Emotional, Investment and Fun.

Originality -  How many times have you walked up to a car in the grocery lot parking lot only to discover that someone else has the same exact car as you?  Do you remember a time visiting a friend's house and seeing the same big box store artwork and furniture that you have in your home?  A one-of-a-kind artwork will make your space uniquely you.  Even better, commission an artist to make a piece specifically for you that will compliment your decor.  An original piece of art greatly increases the status and charm of a living space.

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

This painting would look best in an average sized space.  It would work best with the colors red, green, dark yellow, orange, blue, purple, black, white, gray, beige, or wood.

For more information or custom order, please visit:


Want to see my work in person?  Then visit these locations:
Kettle Fest at Kettle Ridge Farm Saturday, September 16, 2017 Kettle Ridge Farm 515 Log Cabin Road, Victor, NY 14564 http://www.kettlefest.com

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/







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Friday, August 25, 2017

Twilight Woods

 Twilight Woods, 2017
Acrylic paint on canvas
24" x 48" (61.0 cm x 121.9 cm)
201708086
© copyright Michael Kraus

What are the benefits of buying original art?  There are countless benefits to owning original artwork.  Generally, most reasons fall into one of the categories of Style, Originality, Texture/Depth, History, Emotional, Investment and Fun.

Quality - A painter will take a canvas, paint it with primer, and then design a subject using various colors, materials, and imagination.  Usually, this creates a texture and a vividness.  It is hand crafted by the artist.  A reproduction is a photographic copy that has difficulty capturing and holding that quality depending on the resolution, printing, and quality of paper.
Anyone using a copy machine knows the quality of the image declines the further away from the original the print comes from.

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

This painting would look best in an large space such as above a fireplace, couch, or foyer.  It would work best with the colors green, yellow, dark blue, purple, black, white, gray, beige, or wood.

For more information or custom order, please visit:


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/
(detail) 



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Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Twilight Woods

Twilight Woods, 2017
Acrylic on canvas board
11" x 14" in a vintage frame (27.9 cm x 35.6 cm in a vintage frame)
201708085
© copyright Michael Kraus

What are the benefits of buying original art?  There are countless benefits to owning original artwork.  Generally, most reasons fall into one of the categories of Style, Originality, Texture/Depth, History, Emotional, Investment and Fun.

Style - What kind of person are you?  Do you follow trends or do you take your own path?  If you're trendy, then it's a matter of trying to stay ahead of the curve.  Look for pieces that have the colors and subjects that are popular.  Let's say purple bears are becoming hot.  You can purchase and commission a few pieces with purple bears.  You could build a collection (2+ pieces), which can boost the value of the pieces as collectors may want everything you've curated.  Once you've sold your pieces at the peak of their popularity, you can move on to building a collection of unicorn paintings or whatever else you think will be the next big thing.

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

This painting would look best in an average sized space.  It would work best with the colors dark red, green, dark yellow, dark orange, blue, purple, black, white, gray, beige, or wood.

For more information or custom order, please visit:
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/










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Monday, August 21, 2017

Bluff Point At Keuka Lake Postcards

Bluff Point at Keuka Lake
Reproduction of original landscape painting
matte finish good for readability and easy to write on
4" x 5.5" (10.2 cm x 14 cm) and envelopes 

Original illustration by Mike Kraus. These postcards are frameable, collectible, enjoyable and can be given as a special gift for a birthday, wedding, new baby, anniversary, thank you or other occasion. The inside of the card is blank for writing your own special message. The back of the card has pieces title, my name, and website. 

For more information or custom order, please visit:
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/



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Friday, August 18, 2017

Hemlock Lake

Hemlock Lake, 2017
acrylic paint on canvas board
16" x 20" (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm)
201708084
© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/538118402/hemlock-lake-original-acrylic-painting

Why Invest In Original Art?  A great way to add your personality to a room is by decorating the walls with artwork.  Big box stores offer a lot of cheap options with prints, posters, and other mass produced options.  But, they lose their value immediately and rarely earn more than a few bucks years later in a garage sale.  So, if you're trying to freshen up a tired space, redecorating, or a new home-owner, you may want to consider investing in original artwork.

Isn't original art expensive?  It can be.  The Scream by Edvard Munch did sell for $120 million in 2012.  But, there are more affordable options from artists that are established, mid-career, or just emerging.  But, let's review the three reasons original art is more expensive than reproductions: 1) Quality, 2) Scarcity, and 3) Production.

Quality - A painter will take a canvas, paint it with primer, and then design a subject using various colors, materials, and imagination.  Usually, this creates a texture and a vividness.  It is hand crafted by the artist.  A reproduction is a photographic copy that has difficulty capturing and holding that quality depending on the resolution, printing, and quality of paper.
Anyone using a copy machine knows the quality of the image declines the further away from the original the print comes from.  

Scarcity - There's only one original.  And the more well-known and talented the artist is, the most valuable the piece will become.  This severely limited supply of one compared to the potentially unlimited demand of art consumers can increase prices very rapidly.  Mass produced posters remain cheap because if they sellout, they can always just print more.

Production - To create a piece, an artist may spend anywhere between a few minutes to several years.  It can vary depending on size, subject, materials, complexity, etc.  Genius and inspiration are impossible to schedule and mass produce.  All of these factors come together to determine the artist earnings for a piece.  With reproductions, all the creative process costs are eliminated.  A machine can mindlessly make copy after copy without end.

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

 This painting would look best in an average sized space.  It would work best with the colors red, light green, yellow, orange, dark blue, purple, black, white, gray, beige, or wood.
For more information or custom order, please visit:
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/





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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 Co. 1826 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.
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Monday, August 14, 2017

Canandaigua Lake

 Canandaigua Lake, 2017
acrylic on canvas
36" x 48" (91.4 cm x 121.9 cm)
201708083
© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/247433935/canandaigua-lake-original-acrylic

 Why Invest In Original Art?  A great way to add your personality to a room is by decorating the walls with artwork.  Big box stores offer a lot of cheap options with prints, posters, and other mass produced options.  But, they lose their value immediately and rarely earn more than a few bucks years later in a garage sale.  So, if you're trying to freshen up a tired space, redecorating, or a new home-owner, you may want to consider investing in original artwork.

Can you tell me what "original art" is?  "Original art" is an unique one of a kind piece, like Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night painting hanging in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City.  A "reproduction" is a photographic copy of the painting that has it's image placed on posters, mouse pads, coffee mugs, t-shirts, and anything else you can imagine.  Somewhere between the two are "limited edition" prints made by photographers, screen printers, etchers, and other graphic artists that promise to limit the quantity of their copies usually to less than 200 replications.

 Please visit: http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/art-investing.html for some advice to consider in purchasing original artwork.
This painting would look best in a large space, over a fire place or couch.  It would work best with the colors red, green, yellow, orange, dark blue, purple, black, white, gray, beige, or wood.
For more information or custom order, please visit:
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/

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