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? 🍂
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.
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Keep doing good things and good things will happen.
Mike Kraus
