Monday, April 12, 2021

Don't Touch Your Face!

 Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty 


Don't Touch Your Face! #423
pen, ink, and graphite on Bristol paper
2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION
202104025
© copyright Mike Kraus

It is estimated that people touch their faces about 23 times per hour! Respiratory infections can be caused by many different bacteria, viruses, and other disease-causing germs. When you touch your face with dirty, unwashed hands, germs can take up residence in your mucous membranes which can lead to an infection and zits.

There are several ways that you can protect yourself from getting a respiratory infection:
1) Wear a mask and cover your nose and mouth.
2) Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Never touch your face with dirty hands.
3) Wash your hands frequently. Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs in most situations (Use an 60-95% alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean your hands if soap and water are not available).
4) Get a flu shot every year. Encourage your family and friends to get a flu shot too!
5) Ask your healthcare provider if the pneumonia vaccine is right for you.
6) Avoid being close to people who are coughing and sneezing.


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 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:

Friday, April 9, 2021

Honeycrisp Apple

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Honeycrisp Apple
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
202104024
© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/240424277/honeycrisp-apple-original-acrylic

The weekend before my birthday, my wife and I will stop by one of the many orchards near our home in upstate New York.  Some of them are like carnivals with bounce houses, hay rides, and petting zoos.  Others are simply apple farms that just grow apples.  We'll roam the grounds selecting a variety to bake into pies, cakes, and other treats.  And, with any luck, it will keep the doctor away...

This painting would look best in a space that is red, yellow, orange, blue, purple, black, white, grey, beige, or wood

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 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:

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Home Is More Important Than Ever

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty



Our home should be a safe, entertaining, creative, and safe place for us and our loved ones.  And spring is the perfect time to start making our house our favorite place to be.  Here are some ideas: 

1) Make a design journal or Pinterest board - Save photos of rooms you admire.  And take notes about the things you like about a space.
2) Make a priority list - Does that broken chair need to be replaced now?  Did the spare bedroom turn into a work-from-home office without a desk?
3) Make a budget - Avoid stress by knowing what you can afford.  This can also be useful for determining your true priorities.
4) Designing - Take your ideas from your design journal or Pinterest and put your best ideas together. (ie - The wall color from one, furniture from another, and your heirloom painting frames).
5) Make a  Decision - Use painter's tape to see your space.  Outline where you'd put the furniture, shelves, and artwork.  Adjust what doesn't work and build around what you think is great.
6) Implement your plan - Go ahead and buy the paint, order the furniture, and commission the artist.  Put it all together.   


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 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.



Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Working From Home Commute: Having Fun During COVID-19


Working From Home Commute: Having Fun During COVID-19

For many of us, our commute has been greatly shortened into a trip from our bedroom to our makeshift office.  While that's a wonderful perk of the 
Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it does present us with a few problems.  We aren't properly prepared for work.  We're still not awake.  We're not in the right mindset.  And then we're not productive during the day and burned out by the evening.  One solution is a work from home commute routine.

1) Drive - I do not miss driving at all.  Not the traffic jams.  Not the angry aggressive road rage.  Or the parking fees, maintenance, construction, accidents or any of the million other issues. 

What I do miss is the music.  It's the only CD player I have and when I'd listen to my old albums entirely without interruption.  Now, I've uploaded my CDs and listen to an album as I eat breakfast and brush my teeth.  

2) Walk/Run - The best commute I ever had was a 20-minute walk from my home to work.  It'd wake me up, allow me to think and plan for the day, and to relax my mind as well.  And for the return trip home it's calm me down from the stress and prepare me for the evening with loved ones.  So, I plan to walk once a day.

3) Bike - What is said about walk/run is true about biking as well.  Starting and ending your day with a 30-minute bike ride around the neighborhood is great.  You can see what's going on quickly.  But, you can also slow down and stop to appreciate something that's interesting.  


4) Carpool - We used to carpool to jobsites.  And it's created some great friendships.  Especially on long distances when we'd get breakfast on the way.  With Zoom, Skype, Facetime, and other platforms, we are still able to do this with co-workers, clients, friends, and family.  The more informal; the better.  Just a 5-10 minute conversation while you're making and eating Pop-Tarts.  

5) Train/Bus - I was fortunate enough to take the "L" to work when I lived in Chicago.  As we flew past the traffic gridlock below, I'd read, listen to music, a podcast, audio book, work on a crossword puzzle, play video games, and call friends and family.  It's like having a chauffer without the snobbery.  I can still enjoy that every day.  Just a few minutes before and after work.

6) Coffee- This is a special ritual for many people.  And I suggest spoiling yourself and indulging in it.  Most of us have a standard drip coffee maker.  But go ahead and get a single-serve, pour over, French press, AeroPress, cold brew, espresso, stovetop, grind and brew, turkish, steeped, Vietnamese, siphon, percolator, or whatever else you like.  Become your own barista and learn a useful skill for something you use every day.  

7) After Work Commute - As a bachelor, I had a pretty great routine after work.  I'd get a couple drinks with friends and colleagues, pick up dinner at the store, and play video games while I cooked and ate.  And that still happens, just a bit differently.  We'll informally use Zoom after work while having cocktails and playing online games.  And continue through making dinner or waiting for delivery.  

AND DON'T FORGET TO HAVE FUN! And, please feel free to contact if you have any questions or suggestions!


UNVACCINATED
Health and Safety Considerations for gathering:
1) Wear a mask and practice social distancing (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/social-distancing.html)
2) No indoor activities
3) No sharing bathrooms
4) Wash hands before and after gathering. Don't touch your face.
5) Bring your own food, snacks, drinks, and utensils.
6) Do not attend if you have asthma, heart disease, diabetes, overweight, have/survived cancer, or 50+ year old.
7) Do not attend if you have or have had Coronavirus or showing symptoms (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html).
8) Limit attendance to a few people
9) Talk with everyone about comfort levels. Expect and allow non-participation and last minute cancellations.

VACCINATED (2 weeks after final dose)
Health and Safety Considerations for gathering:
1) Wear a mask and practice social distancing in public (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/social-distancing.html)
2) Indoor activities safe with a few vaccinated people.  No indoor activities with unvaccinated people
3) No sharing bathrooms
4) Wash hands before and after gathering. Don't touch your face.
5) Bring your own food, snacks, drinks, and utensils.
6) Do not attend if you have asthma, heart disease, diabetes, overweight, have/survived cancer, or 50+ year old.
7) Do not attend if you have or have had Coronavirus or showing symptoms (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html).
8) Limit attendance to a few people. 
9) Talk with everyone about comfort levels. Expect and allow non-participation and last minute cancellations.

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 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:

Monday, April 5, 2021

On Guard

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty 


On Guard #422
pen, ink, and graphite on Bristol paper
2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION
202104023
© copyright Mike Kraus

He knows what it means to save a life.  That patriotism is keeping each other safe. "To love thy neighbor" (Matthew 22:38) means to "Let each of us look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4). How many of our loved ones have asthma, heart disease, diabetes, overweight, have/survived cancer, or 50+ year old parents/grandparents that need our protection? It can be fun and rugged too.

Luckily, there are so many exceptional piece that fit your unique personality and won't break the bank. This includes durable masks with original Mike Kraus Art: https://society6.com/mikekraus/masks. With over 200 designs, there's a fun and creative piece just for you. 

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 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:

Friday, April 2, 2021

Blue Dream Flower

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Blue Dream Flower
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
202104007
© copyright Mike Kraus

The flowers are in full bloom under the sultry heat of the sun.  Electric colors gain intensity under the afternoon light.  There's a slightly sweet fragrance of summertime berries that attract the bees and hummingbirds.  The garden is a place to learn about patience, persistence, and harmony.  There are two sides to nature and we need to embrace both to acquire the whole.  

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


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 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:

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Supply Run

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Supply Run
pen, ink, and graphite on bristol paper
5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)
© copyright Mike Kraus

A weekend to myself.  Better get everything I need to survive.  A few meals, junk food for snacks, something for dessert, and something to drink to make me feel good.  Aisles and aisles of brightly colored sugary treats.  All waiting for me to let myself go.

This drawing would look best in a colorful space that is bright red, orange, yellow, light green, blue, purple, black, white, neutral, or wood.


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 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.





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