🏬 What place felt relaxing when everything else was overwhelming? 🏬

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

I remember the first time I wandered into Medici on 57th as a student at the University of Chicago, half lost in my own thoughts and not entirely sure where I belonged yet. The place felt alive in a way that was hard to explain, like it had been holding onto stories long before I arrived. The smell of fresh coffee and warm pizza drifted through the room, mixing with the quiet hum of conversation and the feeling that time moved a little differently inside those walls. I would sit there longer than I planned, watching people come and go, realizing that this small space had somehow become a kind of anchor in the middle of everything else.

Years later, I can still remember the taste of those late meals, simple and familiar, shared between classes or after long nights when the world felt both overwhelming and full of possibility. It was never just about the food, it was about having a place that held those moments for you, somewhere you could return to even after you had moved on.

If one quiet corner of your space could bring you back to a time and place that grounded you, would you let it?

🏬 On a Chicago Street Corner 🏬

Museum-quality posters made on thick matte paper

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

For great memories, please visit:

FRAMED: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4492315281

PRINT: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4492320980

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/1131020368

🇺🇸 For MayDay 2026, let’s celebrate Freedom in the most meaningful way we can by creating, sharing, and showing up for one another. Whether you are an artist, a maker, a performer, a vendor, or someone who simply loves to support creativity, you are an essential part of the experience. Bring your colors, your sounds, your ideas, and your energy, and step into a space where inspiration is shared and every contribution matters. Together we can fill the day with connection, creativity, and a spirit that reminds us how powerful it is to express, support, and lift each other up. 🇺🇸

🇺🇸 What will you bring to life? 🇺🇸

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/1494771728908397

🌙 You're invited to a First Friday of color, energy, and connection 🌙

Join us May 1st from 6pm to 9pm at Rochester Fine Art Market for an evening featuring the vibrant and expressive work of Mike Kraus. His paintings are full of bold color, movement, and organic forms that are meant to be felt as much as seen. This is your chance to experience the work up close, meet the artist, and connect with a welcoming community of art lovers. Whether you are a longtime collector or just curious, it is an easy and inspiring way to step into something new.

What might you discover when you give yourself the space to look a little closer?

RSVP at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1628819511667412

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Store: http://MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/TheWayToBeauty

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikekrausart

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mikekraus.bsky.social

👷‍♀️ Where the Real Work Gets Done 👷‍♀️

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

👷‍♀️ Chicago Alley 👷‍♀️
202508034

acrylic paint on canvas board

16" x 20" (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm) 

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your home, please visit: 

https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/243101275

The "L" train shrieks overhead as this alley hums quietly beneath it cluttered with voices, colors, and painted thick over bricks and concrete. There’s a raw electricity here, like the hum of power lines overhead or the rumble of a garbage truck making its last pass. You can almost smell the hot pavement and faded beer from a forgotten corner store, while a coyote seem to be having a whispered conversation about survival and freedom. This isn’t the part of the city shown in postcards, but it might be the part that tells the truth. 

What about your neighborhood—does it tell the truth, or just keep up appearances?

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

🍁 Calling All Art Lovers! 🍁

Get ready for the Awesome Autumn Art Festival—the coziest, craftiest, most joyfully creative online event of the season! Whether you're here to shop unique, sell your amazing work, or just soak in the good vibes, this is THE place to be. Think colorful finds, handmade magic, and a community that actually cares about art.

So grab your pumpkin spice and click that RSVP—because this fall, we’re making art the main event at:  👉 https://www.facebook.com/events/1046518944308485

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.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Store: http://MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/TheWayToBeauty

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mikekraus.bsky.social

🏦 How do we know when to choose a different road? 🏦

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

🏦 Chicago Alley 🏦

Museum-quality posters made on thick matte paper

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your home, please visit: 

FRAMED: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/1884796681

PRINT: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/1884794167

The "L" train rattles and squeals after a long day at work. Chauffeured home while reading a book and looking at the road rage of traffic below. The backs of building pass by with their tangle of power lines and wonky patios. This city has two side: a facade to show the world and a place where the real work gets done. The alleys are somehow beautifully utilitarian.

What do you notice about your neighborhood? Is it full of natural beauty or manmade? Are there trees or have they all been removed? Can you get places by walking and/or biking or are you forced to drive everywhere? Where we live is who we are.

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

My Story

I’m Mike, the Artist of Mike Kraus Art Inc.

I’ve been making art since I was old enough to hold a crayon. I’d fill countless sketchbooks with drawings, cover school assignments with doodles, and publish magazines and print flyers for my friend’s bands. And then, I became an “adult…” The demands of food and rent seemed to require a “serious job.” For years, I languished in a cubicle performing meaningless tasks for a meager salary.

But, art was always my side hustle. I started selling my artwork in junior high between classes. I’d create original pieces during lectures and commissions instead of homework. Oddly enough, being a poor student is what got me into the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Inspired by my past history, I quit my career and took another part-time job as a cashier of a big-box store because it had the least amount of responsibility. The rest of my time I spent painting. After several months, I had to quit this low-wage job too because it was getting in the way of my art.

I decided to be a full-time professional artist. I needed the time to paint, collaborate with my patrons and galleries, and maintain my studio. Since then, I’ve sold thousands of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. I’m very fortunate to have a career dedicated to adding more beauty to the world. And I hope to share that experience with you.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Store: http://MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/TheWayToBeauty

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mikekraus.bsky.social

🎓 Eckhart Hall at the University of Chicago 🎓

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

🎓 Eckhart Hall at the University of Chicago 🎓

Museum-quality posters made on thick matte paper

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your home, please visit: 

FRAMED: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/1702803989

PRINT: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/1688612898

And just like that, her son is a UChicago (https://www.uchicago.edu/) college graduate. Goodbye UChicago and hello Cornell (https://www.cornell.edu/)! She raised him right and shares in his early successes. And she wanted a piece to commemorate this impressive milestone. What an exciting time for this young man.

My Story

I’m Mike, the Artist of Mike Kraus Art Inc.

I’ve been making art since I was old enough to hold a crayon. I’d fill countless sketchbooks with drawings, cover school assignments with doodles, and publish magazines and print flyers for my friend’s bands. And then, I became an “adult…” The demands of food and rent seemed to require a “serious job.” For years, I languished in a cubicle performing meaningless tasks for a meager salary.

But, art was always my side hustle. I started selling my artwork in junior high between classes. I’d create original pieces during lectures and commissions instead of homework. Oddly enough, being a poor student is what got me into the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Inspired by my past history, I quit my career and took another part-time job as a cashier of a big-box store because it had the least amount of responsibility. The rest of my time I spent painting. After several months, I had to quit this low-wage job too because it was getting in the way of my art.

I decided to be a full-time professional artist. I needed the time to paint, collaborate with my patrons and galleries, and maintain my studio. Since then, I’ve sold thousands of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. I’m very fortunate to have a career dedicated to adding more beauty to the world. And I hope to share that experience with you.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Store: http://MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/TheWayToBeauty

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mikekraus.bsky.social

🏨 Chicago Alley 🏨

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

🏨 Chicago Alley 🏨

Museum-quality posters made on thick matte paper

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your home, please visit:

FRAMED: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/1682750543 

PRINT: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/1668576286

The "L" train rattles and squeals after a long day at work.  Chauffeured home while reading a book and looking at the road rage of traffic below.  The backs of building pass by with their tangle of power lines and wonky patios.  This city has two side: a facade to show the world and a place where the real work gets done.  The alleys are somehow beautifully utilitarian.

What do you notice about your neighborhood?  Is it full of natural beauty or manmade?  Are there trees or have they all been removed?  Can you get places by walking and/or biking or are you forced to drive everywhere?  Where we live is who we are.

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

NOW OPEN!!!

🟥⬜🟦 ART FOR DEMOCRACY! 🟥⬜🟦

A celebration of everything we love about Freedom!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/271594646600172

Sign up for the

🍂🍁 5th Annual Fabulous Fall Art Festival 🍁🍂

 at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/821078196830658

Do you believe that one-of-a-kind gifts make people feel special?  Then you're invited to find and buy amazing art. Browse unique, hand-crafted items in ceramics, jewelry, glass, mixed media, photography, wood, leather, fiber, metal, wearable art, digital art, paintings, prints and so much more!

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 Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Lurie Children's 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:

Store: http://MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/TheWayToBeauty

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

18 Years Ago...

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty 

It was 18 years ago that I went on my first date with Megan.  We met working at the Chicago Architecture Center (https://www.architecture.org/) where she planned events and I was in the tour department.  We had a love of weird bad movies from the start.  Blockbuster didn't have Robocop (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093870/), so we rented Innerspace (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093260/) instead.  And for dinner, we had takeout Chicken Katsu from Aloha Eats (https://www.alohaeats.com/).  Little did we know that it was a start of a wonderful adventure.  I'm very lucky.

And after 18 years with me, Megan has earned a homemade crab cake dinner...

Mike Kraus

MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

🌞😎🌳 BRING SPRING ART FESTIVAL 🌳😎🌞

Who's ready for Spring?  We can open our windows and redecorate our homes.  And enjoy the happiness of the warm sun

https://www.facebook.com/events/1060097501884160

ARTS o’ MAGAZINE:

🍺 Dusty’s Saloon 🍺:

https://medium.com/arts-o-magazine/dustys-saloon-09d9328ba48f?sk=4f4257acd925b1d6623148d79897a3a6

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 Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Lurie Children's 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:

Store: http://MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Brushstrokes & Transformation: An Interview With Mike Kraus

In this interview with Mike Kraus, we delve into the captivating journey of an artist whose work serves as both a canvas of color and a canvas of values — honesty, kindness, and fairness. From his formative years in Muskegon, Michigan, Mike’s artistic voyage has been a dynamic exploration of the intricate interplay between the external world and his inner creativity.  Continue Reading at: https://medium.com/arts-o-magazine/mike-krause-9dd86995d76c

ARTS o’ MAGAZINE:

Culture of Positivity

https://medium.com/p/4d7f0a74e179

SIGN UP NOW

for the

🍂🍁 AWESOME AUTUMN ART FESTIVAL! 🍁🍂

Kick off the holiday season with friends and fun.  Meet hundreds of artists and their amazing creations.  How happy are you with your art?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1934458910278595

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 Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Lurie Children's 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:

Store: MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Deep Dish Pizza Time!

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Deep Dish Pizza Time! #525

pen, ink, and color pencil on Bristol paper

2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION
202305012

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your collection, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/244918085/deep-dish-pizza-time-520-artist-trading

Is there a more perfect meal than pizza?  How many other foods are so versatile?  Something that you can have for breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner.  And all the variety of toppings.  Even hot or cold.  Pizza is the perfect food.

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO ON MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND?

Enjoy art, music, and refreshment at a historic church along Cayuga Lake.

IT'S OFFICIAL!  

I've accepted the role of writer for 

ARTS o’ MAGAZINE:  

https://medium.com/arts-o-magazine/beauty-is-a-survival-tool-35c808371ee2

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 Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Lurie Children's 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:

Store: MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Sunset on Lake Michigan

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Sunset on Lake Michigan

acrylic paint of canvas

5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)
201705050

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your home, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/253340151/sunset-on-lake-michigan-original-acrylic

My feet sink into the fine beach sand as I make my way toward the shoreline.  A case of beer and a bundle of wood in each hand.  The heat of the sun begins to give way to the cool breeze blowing off the lake.  The scent of the shoreline pairs perfectly with the changing colors of the sky.  The water splashing onto my feet as I let the day melt away.

Do we need more or is this enough?  Are there some things we can leave in the past?  Why bother with the future?  Right now is pretty good.

This painting would great in a space that is light red, orange, dark yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white, gray, beige, or wood.

☀😎👍 BRING SPRING ART FESTIVAL!!! 👍😎☀

Perfectly unique items for your home at: 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1934458910278595

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 Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and Lurie Children's 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:

Store: MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Sunset on Lake Michigan

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Sunset on Lake Michigan

acrylic paint of canvas

16" x 20" (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm)

201705053

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your home, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/637376380/sunset-on-lake-michigan-original-acrylic

My feet sink into the fine beach sand as I make my way toward the shoreline.  A case of beer and a bundle of wood in each hand.  The heat of the sun begins to give way to the cool breeze blowing off the lake.  The scent of the shoreline pairs perfectly with the changing colors of the sky.  The water splashing onto my feet as I let the day melt away.

Do we need more or is this enough?  Are there some things we can leave in the past?  Why bother with the future?  Right now is pretty good.

This painting would great in a space that is light red, orange, dark yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white, gray, 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 Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and Lurie Children's 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:

Store: MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Chicago Alley

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Chicago Alley

acrylic paint on canvas board

16" x 20" (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm) 

201811125

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your home, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/243101275/chicago-alley-original-acrylic-painting

The "L" train rattles and squeals after a long day at work.  Chauffeured home while reading a book and looking at the road rage of traffic below.  The backs of building pass by with their tangle of power lines and wonky patios.  This city has two side: a facade to show the world and a place where the real work gets done.  The alleys are somehow beautifully utilitarian.

What do you notice about your neighborhood?  Is it full of natural beauty or manmade?  Are there trees or have they all been removed?  Can you get places by walking and/or biking or are you forced to drive everywhere?  Where we live is who we are.

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

Join us for HELLO 2023! A 21-Day Happiness Challenge. We'll start by saying "hi" to each other, tell stories, build relationships, and (most of all) have fun: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10227568068843005&set=gm.542485097899464&idorvanity=305635098251133

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:

Store: MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Chicago Alley

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Chicago Alley #224

gouache paint and ink on bristol paper

NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION

2.5" x 3.5" in a 4" x 5" frame  (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm in a 10.2 cm x 12.7 frame)

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.
2017034

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/515115352/chicago-alley-224-original-miniature

After a long day of work in the Loop, I take the "L" train home. It's so much better reading a book on public transit than fighting road rage in a traffic jam. And today I'm just watching all the buildings pass by. The brown line runs at street level in the alleys after the Western stop. The alleys are somehow beautifully utilitarian.

This artist trading card or ACEO (Art Card Editions & Originals) is collectible, enjoyable and can be given as a special gift for a birthday, wedding, new baby, anniversary, thank you or other occasion.  It is a one-of-a-kind original work of art, NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION. and it is signed on the back.

This piece would look best in a small space that is red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, beige, black, white, grey, 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 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:

Store: MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Aurora Borealis Over Lake Michigan

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Aurora Borealis Over Lake Michigan

acrylic paint on canvas board

8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)

201711120

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/626210526/aurora-borealis-over-lake-michigan

The lights of the city are far from the gently waves splashing on the fine sand beach.  That darkness allows me a brief glimpse of the magic of the skies our ancestors saw before industrialization.  All the greens, pinks, and blues swirling around as if propelled by the soft breeze.  My thoughts evaporate and my eyes absorb this obscured enchantment of the heavens.  Everything is right as my body sinks into the sand and takes in the celestial.

This painting would look best in a small-to-medium space that is red, orange, light yellow, dark green, blue, dark purple, black, white, grey, 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 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:

Store: MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Sun Setting On Lake Michigan

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Sun Setting On Lake Michigan

acrylic paint on canvas

16" x 20" (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm)

201707074

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/205652659/sun-setting-on-lake-michigan-original

My feet sink into the fine beach sand as I make my way toward the bonfire. A case of beer in one hand and a bundle of wood under the other arm. The heat of the sun begins to give way to the cool breeze blowing off the lake. The scent of the shoreline pairs perfectly with the changing colors of the sky. The waves gently crashing on the shoreline of another perfect summer night.

We all have places that feel like home. Reminders of a carefree childhood. Experiences that made us who we are. We have a connection to them as they gave us our sense of the world. How different would our lives be without these spaces?

This painting would great in a space that is light red, orange, dark yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white, gray, 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 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:

Store: MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus