Friday, September 10, 2021

The Burrito

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


The Burrito
acrylic paint on canvas board
202109078 5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)
© copyright Mike Kraus

Around 10,000 B.C., a corn tortilla food wrap became a common dinner in Mesoamerica.  For thousands of years and countless generations, the recipe was passed on and evolved.  The Pueblo Native American of southwestern United States and northern Mexico ate it as a staple meal.  Cowboys roaming California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, and Guanajuato found it to be an easy meal to eat while rounding up cattle.  There's a couple legends where the name "burrito" came from.  One says it's because a street vendor in Ciudad Juárez named Juan Méndez sold the meal while riding a donkey.  Another claims it came from a term of endearment used by a man selling lunches to poor school children.  Today, the burrito is served in an infinite amount of restaurants in a myriad of varieties.  Yet another example of how food shows we have more in common than we have in differences. 

Alrededor de 10.000 aC, una envoltura de tortilla de maíz se convirtió en una cena común en Mesoamérica. Durante miles de años e innumerables generaciones, la receta se transmitió y evolucionó. El pueblo nativo americano del suroeste de los Estados Unidos y el norte de México lo comió como una comida básica. Los vaqueros que vagaban por California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Nuevo México, Colorado, Texas y Guanajuato consideraron que era una comida fácil de comer mientras redondeaban el ganado. Hay un par de leyendas de donde vino el nombre "burrito". Uno dice que es porque un vendedor ambulante en Ciudad Juárez llamado Juan Méndez vendió la comida mientras montaba un burro. Otro afirma que proviene de un término de cariño usado por un hombre que vende almuerzos a niños de escuelas pobres. Hoy en día, el burrito se sirve en una cantidad infinita de restaurantes en una gran variedad de variedades. Otro ejemplo más de cómo la comida muestra que tenemos más en común que diferencias.

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

NOW OPEN! Join us at the Online Awesome Autumn Art Show at: https://www.facebook.com/events/389327332607311 There will be arts, crafts, jewelry, furniture, fashion, and so much more. We'll have a few activities. And, most of all, HAVE FUN!

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.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Skeleton Glow

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Skeleton Glow #452
ink and colored pencil on Bristol paper
2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION
202109077

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
👍💀👍

This artist trading card or ACEO (Art Card Editions and Originals) is frameable, collectible, enjoyable and can be given as a special gift for a birthday, wedding, new baby, anniversary, thank you or other occasion.  It is a one-of-a-kind original work of art, NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION. It is signed on the back and lends itself to framing in a standard trading card frame or book.

NOW OPEN! Join us at the Online Awesome Autumn Art Show at: https://www.facebook.com/events/389327332607311 There will be arts, crafts, jewelry, furniture, fashion, and so much more. We'll have a few activities. And, most of all, HAVE FUN!

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:

Friday, September 3, 2021

Twilight Woods

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Twilight Woods
acrylic paint on canvas board
12" x 16" in a vintage frame (30.5 cm x 40.6 cm in a vintage frame)
202109076
© copyright Mike Kraus

What kind of person do I want to be?  Wandering down the trail I realize I have too much in my backpack.  The burden of this weight is slightly alleviated by the cool, gentle breeze.  I focus on what my senses are telling me about the feel of the soft ground, the bouncing light, the crisp scent in the air, the chirps of alert chipmunks, and the sweet taste in my mouth.  It is good to let it all go.

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

Please join us at the Online Awesome Autumn Art Show starting Tuesday, September 7th at: https://www.facebook.com/events/389327332607311 We'll be buying, selling, trading, and just sharing all of our creations. We'll have a few activities. And, most of all, HAVE FUN!


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:

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

You're Invited To a Week Of Fun!

 Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


DON'T MISS OUT ON ALL THE FUN!
Please join us at the Online Awesome Autumn Art Show starting Tuesday, September 7th at: https://www.facebook.com/events/389327332607311  Join your friends buying and selling various arts, crafts, furniture, fashions, jewelry, and so much more!  And, most of all,
HAVE FUN! 

Your Friend,
Mike Kraus
MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

PS - Autumn is a season of joy, a time of hope, and a moment to reflect on our happiness. Wishing you peace and prosperity now and always. 


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:

Monday, August 30, 2021

Catching Ephemera

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Catching Ephemera #451
ink and gouache paint on Bristol paper
2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION
202108075
© copyright Mike Kraus

This artist trading card or ACEO (Art Card Editions and Originals) is frameable, collectible, enjoyable and can be given as a special gift for a birthday, wedding, new baby, anniversary, thank you or other occasion.  It is a one-of-a-kind original work of art, NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION. It is signed on the back and lends itself to framing in a standard trading card frame or book.

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:

Friday, August 27, 2021

Martha's Vineyard

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Martha's Vineyard
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
202108074
© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/623208731/marthas-vineyard-original-acrylic

Martha's Vineyard is a "home away from home."  Mornings are slow, but not too late.  We take our travel mugs of coffee to the trails to enjoy the cool breeze off the Atlantic.  The smell of salt lingers as the topography undulates and we appreciate quirky formations.  The dense forest and thick marshes abruptly open to meadows.  We come here for this view.  


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.

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Catching Ephemera

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Catching Ephemera #450
ink and gouache paint on Bristol paper
2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION
202108073
© copyright Mike Kraus

This artist trading card or ACEO (Art Card Editions and Originals) is frameable, collectible, enjoyable and can be given as a special gift for a birthday, wedding, new baby, anniversary, thank you or other occasion.  It is a one-of-a-kind original work of art, NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION. It is signed on the back and lends itself to framing in a standard trading card frame or book.

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:

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