Monday, May 6, 2019

Rows of Lavender In Provence

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Rows of Lavender In Provence
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" in a vintage frame (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm in a vintage frame) 
© copyright Mike 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 look best in a space that is dark red, yellow, orange, blue, green, purple, black, white, 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


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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Friday, May 3, 2019

New York Alley

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


New York Alley
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201905041
© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/689606258/new-york-alley-original-acrylic-painting

New York City is uniquely American.  It doesn't matter if you're on 5th Avenue or Hunts Point Avenue, the world is on the street.  The more than 3.2 million foreign-born residents speaking up to 800 different languages are the cause of this vibrancy.  Every store and alley can be a place of wonder and discovery.  For the past 200+ years, it has been a welcoming place for my family.  And now I'm fortunate enough to welcome the liberty-loving idealists of tomorrow.

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


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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Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Thousand Island Sunset

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Thousand Island Sunset
acrylic paint on canvas board
16" x 20" (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm)
201708082
© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/689058278/thousand-island-sunset-original-acrylic
The campfire crackles as it cooks our dinner for the evening.  The scent of our food and burning wood fills the air.  The gentle lapping of the St. Lawrence River fills the silence between our conversation.  We watch the sun make its slow decent toward the horizon.  The sky lights up as we prepare our s'mores.

This painting would look best in a space that is red, dark orange, yellow, green, dark blue, 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


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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Monday, April 29, 2019

São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal
pen and colored pencil on paper
8" x 10" (23.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201904039
© copyright Mike Kraus

Her family is from São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal. A green volcanic island with a lot of exotic plants and marine life. After a recent visit, she decided she wanted to commemorate her family's village of Lombinha da Maia in a painting. It all started with a sketch.


Lombinha da Maia is on a ridge formed by the Ribeira das Faias river.


The Azores are the land of happy cows.  Unlike many cows, they are able to graze year-round in the very temperate climate.  And their joyful exclusively grass-based diet makes the best cheese.  

A rainbow of  Hydrangea flowers thrive on the islands taking over much of the landscape.  


São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal
acrylic paint on canvas
16" x 20" (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm)
201904040
© copyright Mike Kraus

After many consultations back and forth, the piece is completed.  The vision of the sketch comes alive.  The island memories are recalled.  And I'm very fortunate to be a small part of her family's Azores journey.

And on it's way to the framer!

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

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:

Friday, April 26, 2019

Early Spring

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Early Spring
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201904038
© copyright Mike Kraus

The trees are just beginning to sprout leaves; the frozen brook begins to melt.
A building is placed on the highest ground, where the immortals reside.
There is nothing between the willow and peach trees to clutter up the scene.
Steam-like mist can be seen early in the morning on the springtime mountain.
- Qianlong Emperor

This painting would look best in a space that is dark red, dark orange, light yellow, green, dark blue, 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


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:

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Bright Red Birch Forest

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Bright Red Birch Forest
Acrylic on canvas
16" x 20" in a frame (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm in a frame)
© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/199896299/bright-red-birch-forest-original-acrylic

What’s black and white and red all over? A birch forest of course. Birch trees have always been a meditative source for me. Growing up, there was one outside my window that I would look at while daydreaming. And, when I needed to get away from the world I went to a grove of Birch trees to find refuge. I’ve always found the unique and nearly useless white tree interesting.

This painting would look best somewhere that light green, dark red, light yellow, blue, dark orange, dark purple, black, white, grey, 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

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, April 22, 2019

Los Angeles Alley

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Los Angeles Alley
acrylic on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201904037
© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/700607221/los-angeles-alley-original-acrylic

Los Angeles is an attractive beacon of optimism.  What started as a Spanish colony of 11 people has exploded into a population of 18.7 million people.  The Chinese came to build the railroads, African Americans seeking better opportunities after World War II, Koreans to be entrepreneurial shopkeepers, Latinos who founded and built the city, along with countless other people from around the globe.  Los Angeles' diversity and openness to the world has made it the 3rd largest metropolitan economy.  Behind the thin veneer of glamour is the hard work of millions of good people.

This painting would look best in a space that is 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


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:
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