Monday, March 12, 2018

Rhône River at Avignon

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty
Rhône River at Avignon
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201803041
© copyright Mike Kraus

On the left bank of the Rhône River nestles the city of Avignon.  A slight bend in the river that has been a destination for the Greeks, Romans, Popes, and countless others.  And the Pont d'Avignon (the Pont Saint-Bénézet) is the last of many bridges trying to reach the other side.  Previous attempts have been destroyed in war, ruined by floods, or doomed to failure by poor engineering.  But what it lacks in function, it excels in adding to the beauty of a marvelous city.   

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

Friday, March 9, 2018

Arles Amphitheatre

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty
Arles Amphitheatre
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201803040
© copyright Mike Kraus

Our stomachs were perfectly satisfied as we left the little restaurant on Rue Porte de Laure.  A tiny establishment with a handful of tables, ancient stone walls, worn timbered ceilings, and the finest food.  We hold hands as we saunter down the crooked narrow lane of little shops and active eateries.  Just as the sun casts its golden light over the city, the final twist in the road reveals the Arles Amphitheatre.  It stands proudly as if it's waited over 1,900 years for us to arrive.

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

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Twilight Woods

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty
Twilight Woods #283
Gouache paint on Bristol Paper
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION
2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
201803039
© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/531805521/twilight-woods-283-artist-trading-cards


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.



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:

Twilight Woods

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty
Twilight Woods #282
Gouache paint on Bristol Paper
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION
2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
201803038
© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/210522921/twilight-woods-282-artist-trading-card


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.



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:

Monday, March 5, 2018

Sunflowers In Provence France

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty
Sunflowers In Provence France, 2018
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201803037
© copyright Michael Kraus

We take our time leaving Avignon.  We sit in a little cafe as we talk about our plans for the day.  All the villages we'll see.  The quaint farms.  All the food.  But nothing prepared us for the beautiful fields of sunflowers making their surroundings even brighter.  What will we find in Cannes and Nice?

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


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.


Friday, March 2, 2018

Two Rocks In the Sea

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Two Rocks In the Sea
 Manuel Antonio Beach, Costa Rica
acrylic paint on canvas board
11" x 14" (27.9 cm x 35.6 cm) 
201802032
© copyright Mike Kraus

LET'S CREATE YOUR VERY OWN PAINTING TOGETHER! Your cherished memory or idea can be made into a work of art. Whether you want to remember a special day or give something to a caring friend; we can work together to create something unique. Invest in yourself and the arts with a special vision to color your walls.

(detail)

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:

Thursday, March 1, 2018

March News!

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty
I'm pleased to announce my upcoming show at 540WMain in May
2018.  An opening reception will be held Sunday May 6th at 4pm.
For updates and more information, please visit:

Also, I was a recent guest on Loving Rochester where I discussed my
creative process, which can be viewed at:

Your Friend,
Michael Kraus

PS- My work on view at: 
Whitman Works Company​

FINAL DAYS
Bausch + Lomb​ Rochester Optics Center


About Michael 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:

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