Showing posts with label Original Painting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Original Painting. Show all posts

Friday, June 14, 2019

Nikki Beach In Saint-Tropez, France

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty



Nikki Beach In Saint-Tropez, France
acrylic paint on canvas board
201906053 8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
© copyright Mike Kraus

At the north end of Rue Sibille, we made our plans for the day under the shade of a lone tree in a pocket plaza.  Lazily making an itinerary with a bottle of L'Opale de la Presqu'Ile de Saint-Tropez Cotes de Provence Rose.  We sauntered around collecting our bread, meats, and cheese "en pointe."  We follow the narrow lane of Rue du Portalet around the bend to Nikki Beach.  For the rest of the day, we enjoy the hot sun and and gently splashing water realizing how grateful we are to be here.

This piece would work best is a small-to-medium space that is red, orange, yellow, green, dark blue, purple, black, white, grey, or light 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:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus



My family came to America at different times for a myriad of reasons: the French to settle new land, the English and Germans for business opportunities, and the Irish to escape cruel oppression. The United States was a beacon of hope that only required our allegiance to the Constitution.

I am extremely disturbed that a country that has shown me and my family such kindness is so cruel to others. This is not about politics. This is about justice, kindness, and truth. These children and parents are fleeing Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala because government-supported gangs are violently attacking them (https://www.rescue.org/article/what-causing-growing-humanitarian-crisis-along-us-mexico-border). After a dangerous journey, we deny them their rights to asylum (https://www.amnestyusa.org/campaigns/refugee-and-migrant-rights/), we kidnap and lose their children (https://www.aclu.org/issues/immigrants-rights/immigrants-rights-and-detention/family-separation), cage and sexually assault children (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/27/us/immigrant-children-sexual-abuse.html?fbclid=IwAR1613Noe_Lczrx4etRHBNLxQS2BSlLu6Pr16uxKkaQy3U7wzl2V3211y_0), and deny them due process and indefinite imprisonment at detention/internment/concentration camps (https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-katz-immigrant-concentration-camps-20190609-story.html).  We're allowing them to die in these terrible conditions (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/24-immigrants-have-died-ice-custody-during-trump-administration-n1015291).  And we arrest and try to imprison good, Christians who provide food and water to those in need (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/11/arizona-activist-migrant-water-scott-daniel-warren-verdict).

I don't care about politics and find involvement in them to be humiliating.  I do care about honesty, fairness, and respect.  I ask that you remember your family roots, that you search your heart, and confront cruelty in all its forms.

For ways to help, please visit:
https://www.raicestexas.org/



Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Bright Red Birch Forest

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Bright Red Birch Forest
Acrylic on canvas
16" x 20" in a frame (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm in a frame)
© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/199896299/bright-red-birch-forest-original-acrylic

What’s black and white and red all over? A birch forest of course. 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 somewhere that light green, dark red, light yellow, blue, dark orange, dark purple, black, white, grey, beige, or wood.


More About Mike Kraus Art
My NPR Marketplace Business News interview about art as an alternative investment

Graphic Ear Interview on WAYO 104.3 FM

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:

Monday, July 25, 2016

Bright Red Birch Forest

Bright Red Birch Forest, 2014
Acrylic on canvas
16" x 20" in a frame (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm in a frame)
© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/199896299/bright-red-birch-forest-original-acrylic


This painting was featured at:
BRIGHTSCAPES
Canandaigua National Bank and Trust
210 Alexander Street

Rochester, NY 14607

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

What’s black and white and red all over? A birch forest of course. 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 somewhere that light green, dark red, light yellow, blue, dark orange, dark purple, black, white, grey, beige, or wood.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Friday, July 31, 2015

Rows of Lavender and Sunflowers


Sunflowers and Lavender In Provence, 2015
acrylic on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm) 
© copyright Mike Kraus

Rows of Lavender In Provence, 2015
acrylic on canvas board
5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm) 
© copyright Mike Kraus

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

Our bikes race up and down the gentle hills of Provence.  Everything has a distinct texture, the colors are vibrant, and the perfume in the air is intoxicating.  And every twisting road we turn down has countless rows of purple lavender and yellow sunflowers.  The heat of the Mediterranean sun presses against our backs as we pedal back to the village of Sault.  I'll never forget the fields of France.

This painting would look best in a space that is yellow, orange, blue, white, or beige.  

For more information or custom order, please visit:







Thursday, August 14, 2014

Bright Red Birch Forest


Bright Red Birch Forest, 2014
Acrylic on canvas board
16" x 20" 
© copyright Mike Kraus

What’s black and white and red all over? A birch forest of course. 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 somewhere that light green, light yellow, blue, dark orange, beige, or wood.

For more information or custom order, please visit:



Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal


Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal, 2014
Acrylic on canvas board
10" x 8"
© copyright Mike Kraus

Our little rental car struggles through the mountainous switchbacks in northern Portugal.  Just north of the little church Parque de São Bento da Porta Aberta, the small hatchback pulls over to an overlook of the Cávado River.  A valley filled with unique colorful flora.  Wind and water have carved this land of granite.  Now, if only we can find the trailhead to explore...

This painting would look best in a space that is light yellow, bright red, dark orange, or neutral beige.

For more information or custom order, please visit:




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