Friday, February 4, 2022

Mind Reading

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Twilight Woods
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
202201003
© copyright Mike Kraus
The most successful members of a stable society have a strong sense of empathy.  They can see what others see, feel what they feel, and gauge response with precision.  When to advance and when to retire.  Whom to groom and whom to avoid.  Whom to challenge and when to placate.  During social interactions, our brains go through a three-step process: 1) mentalizing goals and plans to achieve them, 2) empathizing feelings to predict their actions, and 3) mirroring and imitation.

Is there someone you'd like to know better?  Ask them how they are doing and what things are like these days.  Learn something new by asking for someone to teach you.  Reach out to someone with different beliefs or background to find their dreams and what makes them happy.  

Mike 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 thousands 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, February 2, 2022

Creating Is Love!

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Creating Is Love!

Growing up, west Michigan winters could be harsh and lonely.  Countless hours watching TV between microwaved meals.   Boredom was a gift that forced me to be creative.  Simple doodles lead to elaborate drawings and then to colorful paintings.  Learning new techniques from books and starting the process all over again.  Now, my days are active and enjoyable with a community of friends like you.  

We have so much in common.  Sure, we share similar interests in the arts.  But, it's something deeper than that.  It's wanting a beautiful life by engaging with each other.  To appreciate all we have to be grateful for. 

Let us continue to imagine together.  There are so many wonderful possibilities.

Your Friend,
Mike Kraus
MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

PS - Thank you for your kindness and support.  Your encouragement has meant so much to me.  I wish you good health and happiness in 2022.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!


Mike 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 thousands 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.



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Monday, January 31, 2022

Beauty Is Empathy

 Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Near Marseille, France
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201710104
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

Those who appreciate Beauty are more elastic and adaptable.  Art enhances our empathy. Art is empathetic because it allows us into the mind of the creator.  A creator’s piece doesn’t pull the emotions from your mind; but delivers their feelings into your brain.  It explains the appropriateness and consequences of our decisions. Highlighting these impacts on others fuels empathy.  Our role in those positive and negative behaviors. That creates the sensation of guilt that forces us to right past wrongs and prevent future digressions.  The more types of beauty we appreciate (painting, sculpture, sports, theatre, etc.), the more accepting we are of others. Expanding our tolerance of what is beautiful reduces our fear and insecurity.

What do you appreciate about your hobbies? Do you share your experiences with others? Is it part of a community?

Mike 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 thousands 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, January 28, 2022

Looking For Problems

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Sunflowers
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
202201001
© copyright Mike Kraus
Creativity is helped by honest debate and constructive criticism.  Only listening to positive reviews from “yes men” and sycophants reinforces limiting and misguided views on the way to certain failure.   Dissenting opinions are useful even when they are wrong.  It’s important to experiment and test our beliefs in the real world.  To do so, we need to seek “problems;” not “solutions.”  People that come bearing “solutions” are not open-minded and only seek to implement their own opinion.  But people presenting “problems” are willing to try various alternatives to find the best option for an issue.  And finding a true “Devil’s Advocate” will force you to be more effective and truthful.  An truthful opponent can stress test our ideas to separate facts from fiction.  We should welcome this criticism because these people care enough to state their honest views.  What we should fear most is a disinterested audience.

What is a problem you have?  Do you know your options?  Who do you confide in to find answers?  And do you ask "what if the opposite is true?"

Mike 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 thousands 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, January 26, 2022

Mentors and Role Models

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Creative people have role models and mentors that inspire them to higher achievement.   These people can even be fictional characters from books and movies.  We need to find and be mentors.  We need collaborators to come together and experiment.  To set aside time and space to work.  To be open, curious, and expect the same in return.  Analyze the results while maintaining a positive environment.

Who do you admire?  What do you like about their work?  Why does their work have meaning for you?  What projects do you collaborate in?  And who do you mentor?



Mike 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 thousands 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, January 24, 2022

Beauty Is Life Affirming

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


 Twilight Woods
Acrylic paint on canvas
24" x 48" (61.0 cm x 121.9 cm)
201708086
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

Beauty is an affirmation of life that can soothe us while in distress.  Art is a hidden reconciliation of opposites creating harmony from chaotic elements.  This is an energy that removes societal blocks and reimagines our cultural structures.  It breaks rigid, obsolete, and oppressive rules in exchange for higher values.  It challenges and engages us toward more freedom.  To observe this, we need to respect and allow contemplation.  Time with no destination, pressure, activity, distractions, or purpose.  Allowing yourself “boredom” clears away the poisonous mental clutter and grants the mind space for creativity.  Strategic and purposeful procrastination to think of a goal or option is good.  This allows you to take in wider alternatives that are more creative and effective.  Immediate productivity freezes creativity in exchange for quick and often less efficient results. The mind needs time to simmer on intimate thoughts for pattern recognition.  Our brains want to create meaning, sense, and order.  So much so that our experiential memories will purposely change to “make sense” of situations.  Art is not the solution to the world’s problems.  It is a device of contemplation for a human mind that creates and solves its own problems.

Do you allow yourself quiet relaxation?  If so, how: a relaxing bath, long hikes in the wilderness, listening/playing music?  Do solutions to problems pop in your head when you stop thinking about them?


 Chicago Alley
acrylic paint on canvas board
16" x 20" (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm) 
201811125
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

Mike 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 thousands 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, January 21, 2022

To Create Is To Love

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


To create is to love. It is an act of focusing your attention on something of interest and pleasure. To make something everlasting. It’s the closest we come to immortality.

Knowing beauty is to see that originality is a myth. Imagination is the combining of ideas, influences, and collaboration leading to new ideas. And artists should acknowledge those motivations. Being the first to do something isn’t “original;” being different and better is.

What do you appreciate? Who inspires you? And how does that influence show up?


Mike 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 thousands 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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