Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Wandering Wednesday: The Worlds We Grow Up In

 Wandering Wednesday


There is something comforting about the idea of a world where you feel safe. A place where you can explore, make mistakes, climb trees, play among fallen leaves, and trust that everything will be okay. But what happens when you discover that not everyone grows up in that kind of world?

That question came to mind while reflecting on “Under the Leaves,” a song by Brinker James from their debut album, Wooden Shield. The song describes a boy whose world has been gentle. He has never experienced the bitter cold, the scorching heat, or the kind of suffering that can change how a person sees life. While the world beyond him is full of pain, he remains sheltered beneath a blanket of leaves.

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

I find something touching about that idea. There is nothing wrong with feeling safe. In fact, I think one of the most valuable things we can give another person is the Freedom to experience Beauty, curiosity, and joy without constantly worrying about what might go wrong. But as we grow older, we begin to discover that the world looks very different depending on where we stand.

I have had experiences that reminded me of this. Sometimes, you meet someone or learn about a situation that reveals just how differently people can experience the same world. Things that seem ordinary to one person may be unimaginable to another. Opportunities that one person takes for granted may be completely out of reach for someone else. Those moments can be uncomfortable. They challenge our assumptions and remind us that our own experiences do not tell the whole story.

I think that is one of the interesting things about working with artists. We each bring our own experiences, perspectives, and interpretations to a creative project. A song can mean one thing to its writers and awaken something a little different in the person listening. I don't want to presume that my interpretation of “Under the Leaves” is exactly what Ben Saunders and Andrew Glaser intended when they wrote it. Their song offers their own perspectives. But when I listen to it, I find myself thinking about the importance of protecting the things that make life beautiful, especially the sense of wonder that allows us to appreciate them.

When I created the cover artwork for Wooden Shield, I spent a great deal of time thinking about nature, the passage of time, and the experiences that shape us. A forest can feel like a refuge. The trees offer shelter, the leaves soften the ground, and sunlight filters through the branches. Yet the forest is also a place of constant change. Leaves fall, seasons turn, and life continues in ways we may not immediately notice.

I like that both ideas can exist together. We need places where we feel safe, but we also need the curiosity to look beyond them. Perhaps the goal isn't to lose our innocence or become accustomed to suffering. Perhaps it's to preserve our capacity for wonder while learning to recognize the experiences of people whose lives are different from our own. We can appreciate the shelter we have known without assuming everyone has had the same protection. We can enjoy our own good fortune while remaining open to understanding someone else's hardships. And perhaps we can help create a world where more people have the opportunity to experience that same sense of safety and possibility.

That's what I find myself thinking about when I listen to “Under the Leaves.” It's a reminder that a song can take a simple image from nature and open a door to a much bigger conversation.

If you enjoy thoughtful music that invites you to look at familiar things a little differently, I hope you'll give Brinker James a listen.


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Monday, October 12, 2026

🍁 Could This Be the Most Beautiful Autumn View in the Finger Lakes? 🍁

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


The shallow waters of Honeoye Lake welcome me with their gentle warmth, even on a crisp morning. I settle into my kayak, listen to the soft rhythm of water against the hull, and breathe in the fresh air as the sun slowly rises above the shoreline. Every tug on my fishing line brings a little excitement, whether it is a perch, bass, or walleye. By noon, I return to shore with my catch, ready to enjoy a simple meal and the kind of peace that is hard to find in a busy world. These are the moments that remind me what matters most, slowing down, finding joy in the outdoors, and making room for the experiences that bring us closer to nature and to one another.

Honeoye Lake holds the kind of memories that never grow old, from childhood adventures on the water to quiet mornings that help me feel grounded and renewed. I love how a day outdoors can lift my spirits, clear my mind, and reconnect me with the simple pleasures that make life meaningful. There is something special about sharing a love for these familiar waters with generations of families, neighbors, and fellow lake lovers who understand that feeling of belonging. Bringing a little of that lakeside calm into everyday life is a wonderful way to keep those memories close. 

What cherished outdoor memory would you love to relive, and how would having a little more of that peaceful lake life in your world make each day feel different?

🍁 Honeoye Lake 🍁 
202308053
Museum-quality posters made on thick matte paper
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.
If this place holds a special place in your heart, you'll find it here:

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


🍂 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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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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