Friday, October 9, 2026

⛪️ Can Rochester find its voice in Sister Act? ⛪️

 Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


⛪️ Queen of Angels Convent and Church ⛪️
acrylic paint on canvas board
5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)
202610050
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

I take in Sister Act and watch Deloris discover that finding your place in the world can begin in the most unexpected place. What starts as a search for safety becomes a journey toward identity, aspiration, and belonging as she and the sisters learn to trust one another, find the courage to be themselves, and build something greater together. As the story unfolds, the church itself seems to awaken with them, growing more colorful and full of light, culminating in the radiant stained glass rose window. I can hear the choir finding its voice as that light fills the space, turning music into a celebration of community, hope, and the joy of discovering what we are capable of when we lift one another up.

I invite you to Sister Act on: 

FRIDAY October 9 @ 7pm
SATURDAY October 10 @ 2pm & 7pm
FRIDAY October 16 @ 7pm
SATURDAY October 17 @ 2pm (ASL Interpretation at this performance) & 7pm


90th Anniversary
Bishop Kearny High School
125 Kings Hwy S, Rochester, NY 14617

On opening night, this scene of Queen of Angels Convent and Church will be offered at the fundraising auction, giving one lucky supporter the opportunity to take home a piece of this story. 

Will you come see the light grow, hear the voices rise, and discover what can happen when a community finally finds where it belongs?



🍂 What if the world you've always known was kind... because you were sheltered from everything that wasn't? 🍂
🎵 Listen and discover the story behind Under the Leaves:

I’m Mike Kraus, a lifelong artist who believes color, movement, and curiosity can quietly change how a space and a day feel. More about me at: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/bio.html
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Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Wandering Wednesday: Under the Leaves

Wandering Wednesday


What happens when you've never experienced the harsher side of life?

There are songs about innocence. And others about suffering. Every once in a while, there is a song that asks what happens when someone has been protected from both.

From Brinker James' debut album, Wooden Shield, comes “Under the Leaves,” a song about innocence, shelter, and the painful realization that the world is not always as kind as the one we know.

The song begins with a child who has never experienced a bitter winter, an icy road, or an unforgiving summer. His world has been gentle. He climbs trees, plays among the leaves, and believes there is no reason for anything to change.

“His world is kind,
Why should he stop?”

That line captures the heart of the song. There is nothing wrong with the child's happiness. The question is what happens when that sheltered world can no longer protect him from everything beyond it.

The original poem that became “Under the Leaves” explores this contrast even more directly. The boy beneath the leaves cannot hear the screaming world around him. While people outside experience pain, hardship, and loss, he remains protected by the leaves above him. Eventually, the song turns that image upside down.

“There’s a world outside
That screams so loud
Death and sadness
All around
A pile of leaves
Upon the ground
The boy inside them
Hears no sound”

Suddenly, the leaves are more than part of an autumn scene. They become a kind of shelter. They represent innocence itself, protecting the child from a world he does not yet understand.

That is what makes “Under the Leaves” particularly interesting to me as a piece of songwriting. It does not simply tell us that the world can be cruel. Instead, it lets us experience that realization through the perspective of someone who has never known anything else.

When I created the cover artwork for Wooden Shield, I spent a great deal of time thinking about the relationship between nature, innocence, change, and the experiences that shape us. The forest became a place where beauty and difficulty could exist together. “Under the Leaves” feels like another part of that same world.

If you've been looking for thoughtful indie folk that goes beyond simple stories and explores innocence, experience, suffering, and the complicated ways we come to understand the world around us, I hope you'll spend a few minutes with Brinker James.


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Monday, October 5, 2026

🍂 What Would It Feel Like to Belong? 🍂

Brightscapes: The Way to Beauty
​
​
Today is the big day!

The 🍂 Fabulous Fall Art Festival 🍂 is officially open, and I would love for you to come spend a little time with us.

From October 5th through 7th, artists, collectors, art lovers, and creative people from around the world are gathering online to share artwork, stories, conversation, and the simple joy of creating something beautiful. You can join us right here:

🍂 Fabulous Fall Art Festival 🍂

Sometimes life gets so full that we forget what it feels like to simply enjoy something. There are errands, work, responsibilities, notifications, and a hundred little things asking for our attention. Before we know it, we've gone days without doing something just because it makes us feel good.

That's one of the reasons I love these festivals. You don't have to plan a special outing. You don't have to know anything about art. You don't have to buy anything. You can simply click the link, step inside, and look around.

You'll find paintings, photography, ceramics, jewelry, glass, fiber, wood, metal, wearable art, prints, mixed media, and so much more. You'll meet artists, discover one of a kind creations, and find conversations with people who appreciate creativity and love supporting independent artists.

And somewhere along the way, something wonderful can happen. You may see a piece that reminds you of someone you love. Discover an artist whose work speaks to you. Or find something that makes you smile. And simply realize that you're surrounded by people who enjoy the same things you do. That's what you'll find at the Fabulous Fall Art Festival.

And if you discover something you love, that's wonderful too. Every purchase helps support a real independent artist and keeps creativity moving from one person to another. So here's your easy step:

Click here, come inside, and stay for a while.
🍂 Join the Fabulous Fall Art Festival 🍂

There are already thousands of people connected to this creative community, along with thousands more who have visited our festivals over the years. But you don't have to know anyone before you arrive. There's a place for you here. Come see what's waiting for you.

Questions!

Your Friend,
Mike Kraus

P.S. Something special is coming after Thanksgiving. The 🦃 Grateful Art Festival 🦃 will bring artists, makers, collectors, and art lovers together November 27th through December 1st for a celebration of generosity, creativity, and community. I'll tell you more as we get closer!

P.P.S. And join the Brightscapes Circle, as we have an especially cozy gathering planned too. Our 🍂🦃🍁 Brightscapes Circle Thanksgiving Gathering 🍁🦃🍂 will be a chance to reconnect, share stories, laugh together, and celebrate the wonderful community we've created. Everyone deserves a seat at the table, and I can't wait to see you there.

EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK​

🍂 What if you've never had a bad day? 🍂

One of the most intriguing songs on Brinker James' Wooden Shield is “Under the Leaves.”

It's about innocence, being sheltered from the world's pain, and the moment you begin to realize there's something beyond your own experience.

“His world is kind,
Why should he stop?”

I had the privilege of painting the cover artwork for Wooden Shield, and I love discovering the stories hidden inside these songs.

🎧 Listen to “Under the Leaves”

🍂 What do you think is hiding under the leaves? 🍂


My Story
Hi, I’m Mike—the artist of Mike Kraus Art Inc.

I’ve been making art since I could hold a crayon. As a kid, I’d fill every notebook, homework margin, and scrap of paper with doodles. I sold my first artwork in junior high, sketching in class and handing off pieces between periods. That early love for making things never faded. I followed it all the way to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and eventually, I decided to stop treating art as a side hustle and make it my life’s work.

My paintings are full of energy, motion, and saturated color. I’m drawn to bold shapes and organic lines—forms that feel alive. I create with the hope that my work brings something beautiful and uplifting into someone’s day. Whether it’s a spark of joy, a moment of calm, or just a splash of color that makes you pause—I want my art to connect with something real.

Now, I’m lucky enough to paint full-time, with collectors across the U.S. and in dozens of countries around the world. But more than anything, I still feel like that kid with a crayon, excited to create. I’m grateful to share this journey with you—and I hope you find something in my work that makes your world a little brighter.
--
Keep doing good things and good things will happen.
Mike Kraus

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Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Wandering Wednesday: When music and visual art meet

Wandering Wednesday


One of the most interesting parts of creating the artwork for Brinker James' Wooden Shield was discovering how closely music and visual art can be connected. The painting isn't an illustration of any one song. It's a visual representation of the entire album, with 10 different objects and details representing the 10 songs. 

The maple leaf, for example, represents Fallen. Ben and Andrew gave me their vision for the artwork, some rough sketches, and ideas for how the songs could be represented visually. Then I started listening. And reading. Asking questions. I wanted to understand not just what the songs were about, but the people who wrote them. What were they feeling? What were they trying to say? What did these songs mean to them?

One of the things that struck me about Wooden Shield was the contrast between melancholy and hope. There is loss, mortality, heartbreak and uncertainty throughout the album, but there is also joy, beauty and an acceptance that life continues to change. Fallen captures that beautifully.

The song is told from the perspective of a decaying leaf. Death is part of the story, but so is acceptance. There is even something joyful about the imagery of autumn, when the forest can be at its most spectacular. And then the song ends with:

"Godspeed, my brothers."

That combination of sadness, beauty and hope is what I hear in the song. The more we talked about the music, the more the painting developed. At one point, I sent Andrew and Ben my interpretation of the album as a whole. I wanted to make sure I understood what they were trying to express before I went too far. Their response gave me the confidence to keep going.

That experience made me realize something I hadn't experienced quite this way before. When music and visual art come together, they can create something neither medium could create by itself. Music gives an image another layer of meaning. An image can give music another way to be experienced. And somewhere in between, something new happens. That's what I've enjoyed most about creating Wooden Shield with Brinker James.

Have you ever heard a song that made you see something in your mind? 
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Monday, September 28, 2026

⚖️💀 What Happens When the Law Itself Becomes Something to Fear? 💀⚖️

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


On Halloween night, I stood beneath a flickering streetlamp and thought about how easily injustice can hide behind robes, marble, and the solemn language of the law. I imagined the horrifying consequences when a judge uses the power entrusted to him for personal enrichment while decisions from the bench help place greater power in the hands of cruel and violent tyrants. The damage does not stay inside a courtroom. It reaches the kitchen table, where a parent worries about paying the mortgage, a family goes into more debt for groceries, and wonders whether the law will protect them or simply enrich those who already hold power. I could almost smell the rotting stench of corruption in the autumn air and hear the quiet rattle of Democracy's bones. That frightened me far more than any Halloween ghost.

Halloween reminds us that monsters can wear disguises, but perhaps the most frightening disguise of all is authority without accountability. 

When the choices made by people in power can shape the destiny of every family, who will we decide to become?

⚖️💀 Decisions of Destiny #630 💀⚖️
pen and colored pencils on Bristol paper
2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION
202609049
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.
To step inside this little nightmare and meet the original, please visit: 
or buy direct at:



🍂 What does the world look like through the eyes of a leaf that has fallen to the ground? 🍂

Brinker James explores loss, change, and letting go in “Fallen,” a thoughtful song from their debut album Wooden Shield.

Sometimes endings are not simply endings. 🍂

🎵 Listen and discover the story behind the song:


🍁 Freedom Fall🍁

Join Freedom Fall, October 2nd-4th, an online gathering celebrating creativity, free expression, storytelling, and community. Bring your art, your ideas, your voice, or simply your curiosity, and help create a space where people can create, connect, speak freely, and belong.



🍂 YOU'RE INVITED TO THE FABULOUS FALL ART FESTIVAL 🍂
🎨 Discover beautiful artwork.
💬 Meet creative people.
❤️ Find something special.
October 5th to 7th. What are you hoping to discover?

I’m Mike Kraus, a lifelong artist who believes color, movement, and curiosity can quietly change how a space and a day feel. More about me at: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/bio.html
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Friday, September 25, 2026

🦫 Do You Prefer Your Beaver Wild, Natural, and a Little Fluffy? 🦫

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


I have never been particularly interested in following the crowd. I prefer the quiet corners, the places where the water is cool, the trees are plentiful, and nobody asks too many questions. Give me a good stick, a little privacy, and enough time, and I will build something of my own. I know how to work, how to protect what is mine, and when to disappear beneath the surface when the world gets too noisy. There is something wonderfully satisfying about being exactly who you are, especially when you have a thick coat, a very serious tail, and just enough attitude to keep things interesting. And yes, I have heard the jokes about my name. I have learned to take a compliment wherever I find one.

Maybe that is why I have always felt at home among people who would rather create their own little world than live in somebody else's. I like people with imagination, people who can appreciate a wink, a little mischief, and the pleasure of surrounding themselves with things that make them smile. When the seasons change and the evenings grow quieter, I want to remind you that building a life you love does not have to be so serious. Make your space feel like you. Keep what matters close. Let a little weirdness in. 

And if someone asks why there is a mischievous beaver keeping watch over your room, will you really be able to resist telling them his story?

🦫 Nice Gnawing You 🦫
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
202608044
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.
Ready to bring this mischievous little beaver home? Please visit: 
or buy direct at:


🍂 What does the world look like through the eyes of a leaf that has fallen to the ground? 🍂

Brinker James explores loss, change, and letting go in “Fallen,” a thoughtful song from their debut album Wooden Shield.

Sometimes endings are not simply endings. 🍂

🎵 Listen and discover the story behind the song:


🍁 Freedom Fall🍁
Join Freedom Fall, October 2nd-4th, an online gathering celebrating creativity, free expression, storytelling, and community. Bring your art, your ideas, your voice, or simply your curiosity, and help create a space where people can create, connect, speak freely, and belong.


🍂 YOU'RE INVITED TO THE FABULOUS FALL ART FESTIVAL 🍂
🎨 Discover beautiful artwork.
💬 Meet creative people.
❤️ Find something special.
October 5th to 7th. What are you hoping to discover?

I’m Mike Kraus, a lifelong artist who believes color, movement, and curiosity can quietly change how a space and a day feel. More about me at: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/bio.html
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Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Wandering Wednesday: Did You Notice The Fallen Leaf?

Wandering Wednesday


When Andrew Glaser and Ben Saunders described the artwork they imagined for "Fallen", they gave me a surprisingly simple instruction: “A single leaf off to the side of the pile.” They also told me what the song meant to them. Fallen is written from the "perspective of a decaying leaf, reflecting on the fact that things eventually die, but with a positive outlook on it." That idea became one of the smallest details in the Wooden Shield painting. Look closely at the forest floor and you will find a mass of fallen leaves. But one leaf is highlighted and larger than the others.

It has fallen. Its colors are fading. It is being pulled toward the earth. The trees around it continue to grow, while the leaf becomes part of something larger than itself. The lyrics make that transformation feel personal:

“Seasons have slipped by
Since our glorious fall
Now one with the ground
We answer a new call”

There is sadness in the song, but there is also acceptance. The leaf is not simply disappearing. It is becoming part of the next stage of the forest.

That idea influenced the way I approached the artwork. The forest in Wooden Shield is constantly changing. Spring becomes Summer. Summer becomes Autumn. Leaves grow, change color, fall, and eventually return to the earth.

The single leaf is easy to overlook. But once you know its story, it becomes difficult to see the painting the same way. That is one of the things I love about creating artwork from music. Sometimes the most meaningful part of a painting is not the largest or most obvious element. Sometimes it is the small detail that gives you another way into the song.


Listen to the full song at:

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