Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Twilight Woods

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Twilight Woods
acrylic paint of canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201804059
© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/596254186/twilight-woods-original-acrylic-painting

 Please join us for the opening of my show at:
540WMain
Sunday, May 6th 2018
4 - 6pm
540 West Main Street
Rochester, NY 14608

 For more information, please visit:
This painting would look best in a space that is dark red, light yellow, dark orange, blue, dark purple, green, beige, white, black, grey, 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:
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Monday, April 23, 2018

The Diva Squirrel


Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


The Diva Squirrel
5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm) in a frame
acrylic paint of canvas board
201804058
© copyright Mike Kraus

Suzan isn't afraid of being "different." As a model, she regularly shops at jewelry stores for accessories. One day, she was inspired to create a piece she saw, but with a little more pizzaz. Suzan was successful at adding that pizzaz and started to make several more pieces. Friends, family, and co-workers would compliment the jewelry, which lead to sales when they discovered they were her own creations. 

Why Diva Squirrel Treasures? "Diva" is Suzan's modeling persona (per say). "Squirrel" is her nickname because of her short attention span. And "Treasures" are all her jewelry. "It is uniquely silly, but even my oldest son said he remembered in because it was different.

See Diva Squirrel Treasures eclectic jewelry at: 


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, April 20, 2018

Cats Need Structure Too!

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Cats Need Structure Too!
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201804053
© copyright Mike Kraus
He didn't know what to get her for her birthday. She's an antique collector and already has so many wonderful things. In fact, she was really excited about her recent acquisition of a Tiger Maple Chest. Inspiration! That's when he contacted me. We discussed the room and how the Tiger Maple Chest needed to be emphasized. Also about having her cats included doing various activities around the room. And the subject seemed to be more appropriate in a post-impressionist style.

 Over the next few weeks, we worked together on the piece. Changes to the room arrangement, brightening the chest and adding more details, and developing the cats' personalities even more. On her birthday, she opened her gift and was shocked. "That's my room!" and went on saying the name of each cat. She was so excited about such a thoughtful gift and went into her antique storage to find a frame for her new piece.


(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.

(detail)

For more information or custom order, please visit:
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Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Blue and Green Birch Forest

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Blue and Green Birch Forest
acrylic paint of canvas board
5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)
201804056
© copyright Mike Kraus
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 in a small bright space that seems bare.  It would also compliment a space that is red, yellow, orange, navy blue, purple, red, dark green, beige, white, black, grey, 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:
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Monday, April 16, 2018

Aurora Borealis Over the Rocky Mountains

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Aurora Borealis Over the Rocky Mountains
acrylic paint of canvas board
5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)
201804055
© copyright Mike Kraus
Our car whined climbing the steep roads of the Rocky Mountains and the headlights only seemed to  illuminate the black void of the sky.  Twists and turns around every rock.  Just inches from the road were cliffs with no bottom.  As we came out of a tunnel, the sky flashed and danced with vibrant colors and unusual shapes.  We pulled off the desolate road and just watched the sky for hours.

 This piece would look best in a space that is dark red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white, beige, grey, 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:
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Friday, April 13, 2018

Great Fish of the Northern Deep

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Great Fish of the Northern Deep
acrylic paint of canvas board
5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)
201804054
© copyright Mike Kraus
In the Northern Deep there is a great fish, thousands of miles long. It turns into a giant bird whose back is thousands of miles in size. When it gets enlivened and takes flight, its wings are like clouds covering the sky...

 - Chuang-tzu - Chuang Chou - Chapter 1 [Freedom]


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:

Thursday, April 12, 2018

Flowers For the Home


Our guest bedroom has a small window on the north side of our house and receives very, very little sunlight.  My wife, Megan, and I have been trying to find ways to make the space more useful and inviting.  As most of you know, it's something I'm frequently involved with for my art career: http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/how-to-use-original-artwork-in-your.html.  While we have the light colored walls, bright bedding, and mirrors, we needed something that would "pop."

We selected this arrangement of peonies from plantscapeinc.com (https://www.silkplantsdirect.com/silk-flowers/flower-variety/peony/peony-assorted-pack-of-1-c9864s.html).   As you can see, it explodes with color.  And they are surprisingly realistic.  Even more impressive was the quick shipping, which arrived only 3 days after the order.  Overall, these were a great choice for our guest room.  They are sculptural, bright, and require no sunlight.  

For more information about flowers for your home or business, please visit:  
interior landscape design - http://www.plantscapeinc.com/services/interior-landscaping
interior plant service - http://www.plantscapeinc.com/

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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