Monday, October 21, 2019

Lavender In Provence

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty 



Lavender In Provence
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201910092
© copyright Michael Kraus


Our bikes race up and down the gentle hills of Provence.  Everything has a distinct texture, the colors are vibrant, and the perfume in the air is intoxicating.  And every twisting road we turn down has countless rows of purple and blue lavender.  The heat of the Mediterranean sun presses against our backs as we pedal back to the village of Sault.  I'll never forget the fields of France.

This painting would great in a small space that is dark red, orange, yellow, green, blue, dark purple, black, white, gray, beige, or wood.

More About Mike Kraus Art
My NPR Marketplace Business News interview about art as an alternative investment

Graphic Ear Interview on WAYO 104.3 FM

Boston Voyager Magazine interview at:

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:
at No comments:

Friday, October 18, 2019

Montagne Sainte-Victoire

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty 



Montagne Sainte-Victoire
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201910091
© copyright Michael Kraus


Montagne Sainte-Victoire can be seen in the distance from Le Jas de Bouffan.  A source of inspiration for ancient Roman soldiers conquering surrounding lands.  A site for festivals for early Christians celebrating the beautiful world.  And the view of the mountain was incredible at Chemin des Lauves.  These locations and mountain were the bookends of the life of Paul Cezanne.  His optical realism, simplified shapes, colorful atmospheres, and enhanced depth motivated Matisse, Picasso, Mondrian, Beckmann, Braque, Giacometti, Léger, Gorky, Giorgio Morandi, Liubov Popova, Marsden Hartley, Charles Demuth, Kelly, Jasper Johns, Jeff Wall, Brice Marden, Sherrie Levine, Francis Alÿs and so many others to make their own unique creations.

This painting would great in a small space that is dark red, orange, yellow, green, blue, dark purple, black, white, gray, beige, or wood.

More About Mike Kraus Art
My NPR Marketplace Business News interview about art as an alternative investment

Graphic Ear Interview on WAYO 104.3 FM

Boston Voyager Magazine interview at:

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:
at 2 comments:

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

On the Shore of Lake Ontario

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


On the Shore of Lake Ontario
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201910090
© copyright Mike Kraus
“Water is fluid, soft, and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. This is another paradox: what is soft is strong." - Lao Tzu

This piece would look best in a small-to-medium space that is red, orange, yellow, green, dark blue, purple, black, white, grey, or wood.

More About Mike Kraus Art
Graphic Ear Interview on WAYO 104.3 FM
https://www.mixcloud.com/graphic-ear/070518-graphic-ear-with-mike-kraus/


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:
at No comments:

Monday, October 14, 2019

Twilight Woods

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Twilight Woods
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201910089
© copyright Mike Kraus

I follow the winding path not knowing where I'll end up.  The trees rustle in the breeze stirring up the aromas of the forest.  A freshness one always has to remind themselves of in civilization.  The light refracts in strange ways at this time.  It's when the surreal becomes the real.
This piece would look best in a small-to-medium space that is red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, light purple, black, white, grey, or wood.

More About Mike Kraus Art
My NPR Marketplace Business News interview about art as an alternative investment

Graphic Ear Interview on WAYO 104.3 FM

Boston Voyager Magazine interview at:

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.


at No comments:

Friday, October 11, 2019

The Coffee Art Project at The New York Coffee Festival

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Cafe Bliss
 acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm) in a frame
201909079
© copyright Mike Kraus

The New York Coffee Festival (https://www.newyorkcoffeefestival.com) is New York’s flagship coffee event, celebrating the burgeoning specialty coffee scene in this great city. With exceptional coffee, as well as food, cocktails, live music and art on offer, it’s an unmissable event for coffee lovers of all levels.
The New York Coffee Festival is a celebration of community and culture, returning to the Metropolitan Pavilion (125 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011 - https://www.metropolitanevents.com/) from October 11-13. Whether you're a beginner, coffee aficionado, self-confessed coffee geek, or key industry stakeholder, we're curating an immersive program just for you.

Taste your way through the vibrant New York coffee scene with hundreds of exciting coffees to sample. Boost your coffee knowledge in workshops, be a part of interactive demos and meet the top US artisans and baristas one-to-one.  To top it all off, enjoy delicious street food, coffee cocktails, live music and coffee-inspired art.

With 100% of our profits being donated to Project Waterfall (http://www.projectwaterfall.org/), partnering with NYC-based charity: water (https://www.charitywater.org/) to deliver life-changing water projects in coffee-growing regions. Since 2011, Project Waterfall has raised over $1.4 million, bringing clean water to more than 25,000 people across seven countries. 


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.

at No comments:

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Twilight Woods

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Twilight Woods
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201910088
© copyright Mike Kraus

I follow the winding path not knowing where I'll end up.  The trees rustle in the breeze stirring up the aromas of the forest.  A freshness one always has to remind themselves of in civilization.  The light refracts in strange ways at this time.  It's when the surreal becomes the real.   

More About Mike Kraus Art
My NPR Marketplace Business News interview about art as an alternative investment

Graphic Ear Interview on WAYO 104.3 FM

Boston Voyager Magazine interview at:

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.


at No comments:

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Off To The Races In Saratoga Springs

HELLO SARATOGA SPRINGS!

To alleviate Megan's sadness at leaving the Wilson Foundation (http://wilsonfdn.org/) after 9 years and to temper her excitement at joining the Farash Foundation (https://www.farashfoundation.org/), we took a very quick trip to nearby Saratoga Springs, New York.


"Were you born in a barn?"
"No, but I did sleep in a horse stable..."

The Brentwood Hotel (https://brentwood-hotel.com/) was a nice, fun, and comfortable place to stay within the grounds of the Saratoga Race Track (https://www.saratogaracetrack.com/).  Very European accommodations.  And close to town, but far enough away to be very, very quiet.

While it was the off-season, the Brentwood Hotel was a great place to watch all the horses head to the track from their stables for training.

Druther's Brewing (http://www.druthersbrewing.com) with their good beer and food of gigantic proportions.  We saw another table order a mac and cheese that could easily feed a family of four.

Friends gathering around the table.

When there's a bit of rain on vacation, the best thing to do is try everything a brewery offers.  To see what's on our flight, visit: http://www.druthersbrewing.com/beer

Megan trying our race day hats at Soave Faire Art & Office Supplies (http://www.soavefaire.com).  This store somehow carried everything.  They had fashion, cards, home decor, art supplies, and so much more.  If they carried food, there'd be no reason to shop anywhere else.

Since 1938, this is the Louisiana cooking they've been serving at Hattie's Chicken Shack (http://hattiesrestaurant.com).  Great food and atmosphere.  Almost like taking a vacation while on vacation.

Just a sliver of the expansive grounds of the Saratoga Race Track.  It's at least 125 acres (if not more) of race tracks, stables, fields, barns, Hall of Fame, and more.

Please tell me that mini horse racing is a thing.  Com' on Lil' Sebastian!

Taking our morning strill into town we were able to watch some harness racing warm-ups and training.

Just a small slice of the enormous mansions around town.

The little Hobbit House known as the Bread Basket Bakery (https://www.saratogabreadbasket.com)

Enjoying our maple twist and raspberry bear claw in Congress park.  These were pretty amazing.

A bit of the historic and old world charm of Congress Park (https://www.saratoga.com/hotspots/congress-park/)

Megan overlooking Lake George from Pilot Knob Preserve (https://www.lakegeorge.com/hiking/pilot-knob/#1).

This is protected lands in the Adirondack Mountains.  A mile-long driveway and house was constructed on this site, which blighted the unbroken wilderness of the Pilot Knob range.  The property was confiscated, rehabilitated by the Zug Family, and the house was torn down to the cheers of the crowd of people in 40 boats below.


The hemlock and oak forest on the back part of Schumann's Preserve at Pilot Knob.



Back at the gazebo overlooking Lake George


After all that vertical hiking, we earned these burritos at the Cantina (https://www.cantinasaratoga.com/).  Chicken Tinga with cactus fries really hit the spot.

Watching the horses return to the Bond Racing Stables (https://www.jamesbondracing.com) after some training at the race track.


It's amazing how athletic these horses look compared to the horses you see wandering around the fields on farms.

Five Points Grocery (https://www.saratoga5points.com/) wonderful little grocery store perfectly situated between our place and town.

Hathorn Spring One is one of the namesakes of the city.  "Discovered in 1866, by a workman, Samuel Freeburn, while digging an excavation for Congress Hall, and named after Henry H, Hathorn owner of the Congress Hotel .A highly-carbonated water of an Alkaline-Saline flavor noted for its high mineral content, and renowned as a digestive curative..."

Compton's Restaurant (https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Diner/Comptons-Restaurant-159286897415115/) for breakfast.  It's the perfect no-nonsense, good food and reasonable prices greasy spoon.


Adelphi Hotel (https://www.theadelphihotel.com/) and Morrissey Restaurant (https://www.morrisseyslounge.com/) showing some of the grandeur of Broadway.

Some of General Philip Schuyler's 168,000 acre estate (https://www.nps.gov/sara/planyourvisit/schuyler-house.htm) given to him and maintained by tenant farmers and slaves.  Also, just know the difficulty of navigating the area when every house, laundromat, rest stop, and street is named Schuyler...

Saratoga National Park (https://www.nps.gov/sara/index.htm) overlooking the battlefield where the British faced their first surrender ever.  A feat that encouraged the French to join the America cause for independence, which turned the endeavor to our favor.


Our final stop on our way home.  The eerie nesting grounds of the Heron at Ballston Creek Preserve (https://www.saratogaplan.org/explore/public-preserves-trails/ballston-creek-preserve/) in Ballston Spa, NY.  While we didn't see any Heron, Megan did see a Bald Eagle from I-90 at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (https://www.fws.gov/refuge/montezuma/).

That's it from our sample-sized vacation.
at 1 comment:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

If you like this, you might like...

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...