🍷 Carefree Wine Tasting: Pinot Noir 🍷

I know very, VERY little about wine.  So, this is about having fun with friends, good food, and drinks.  And it's an entertaining experiment as well.  Our perception of what is "good" can get so confused by pricing, packaging, and marketing.  But, when you do a blind taste test, the results can be surprising.

How it works is simple.  We mark each wine glass and mix them to keep their identity secret.  Then we (6 individuals) sip each to look for the smell, taste, texture, acidity, and tannins.  We then do it again with food suggestions we've found from various sources.  Finally, we rank our favorites with and without food ending with an overall winner.  

Bouchard Aîné & Fils 2023 (https://www.bouchard-aine.fr/en/our-wines.r-2/our-range-of-wines.r-12/bourgogne-pinot-noir.v-1290.html?valid_legal=1)

Color: Deep dark red

Nose/Smell: Faint earthy minerals

Taste: Tart berry like a purple SweeTart.  

Texure/Mouthfeel: Light and then rought

Acid/Cheek: varied greatly between participants

Tannin/Gumdryness: Slight-to-medium dryness

Food: 

BBQ potato chips: smoother with more flavor brought out.

Gouda cheese: Smooth and a little tangy

Chocolate Almonds: Okay...

White Chocolate: Tart and then very sweet.  Makes chocolate sweeter.

Thirsty Owl 2023 (https://thirsty-owl-wine-co.square.site/product/pinot-noir-2023/559?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=FL2BJXYPCYMRYAAXHPPA2D2K)

Color: Light, translucent burgundy.  Madeira-like.

Nose/Smell: Light strawberry and tart cherry.

Taste: Sour fruit

Texure/Mouthfeel: Very thick, rough.  Like corduroy.

Acid/Cheek: Very acidic

Tannin/Gumdryness: Very dry 

Food: 

BBQ potato chips: Not good and very artificial.

Gouda cheese: Super smokey, but not very tasty.

Chocolate Almonds: Bitter

White Chocolate: Just tart.

Bota Box Pinot Noir (https://www.botabox.com/wines/nighthawk-pinot-noir/)

Color: Very dark red and opaque.

Nose/Smell: Blackberry jam

Taste: Apple, Light, good blackberry jam.  Long lasting.

Texure/Mouthfeel: Smooth and jammy.

Acid/Cheek: So light and mild.

Tannin/Gumdryness: Low acid and smooth.

Food: 

BBQ potato chips: Makes wine too sweet.

Gouda cheese: Subtly smooth and very good.

Chocolate Almonds: Good

White Chocolate: Pretty good.

Estancia Pinot Noir 2022 (https://www.estanciawines.com/products/pinot-noir)

Color: Very dark and nearly black.

Nose/Smell: Fresh picked fruit.  Raspberries and tart apple

Taste: Tart apple and vanilla plum

Texure/Mouthfeel: Mild with a rougher aftertaste.

Acid/Cheek: Medium acidity

Tannin/Gumdryness: Medium 

Food: 

BBQ potato chips: Disappears and not good.

Gouda cheese: Smokey, wonky, and changes in not a good way.

Chocolate Almonds: Bumps up the sweetness and good.

White Chocolate: varies from okay-to-good depending on person.

BEST PINOT NOIR ON ITS OWN:

#1 Bota Box Pinot Noir

#2 Bouchard Aîné & Fils 2023

#3 Estancia Pinot Noir 2022

#4 Thirsty Owl 2023

BEST PINOT NOIR WITH FOOD:

#1 Bota Box Pinot Noir

#2 Bouchard Aîné & Fils 2023

#3 Thirsty Owl 2023

#4 Estancia Pinot Noir 2022

BEST OVERALL PINOT NOIR:

#1 Bota Box Pinot Noir

#2 Bouchard Aîné & Fils 2023

#3 (TIE) Thirsty Owl 2023/Estancia Pinot Noir 2022

For the 6 participants, Bota Box scored nearly twice as high as 4th place winning best in all categories.  The wines themselves varied widely in almost all areas.  And changed quite a bit with food.  I hope this helps you find something you like.  Maybe you'll have a different experience.  Or you'll share one for us to try next time.  THANKS!

See our other wine tasting results at:

Riesling: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2024/05/carefree-wine-tasting-riesling.html

Pinot Grigio/Gris: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2024/07/carefree-wine-tasting-pinot-grigiogris.html

HEY ROCHESTER, NEW YORK!

You're invited to:

a WILD, WEIRD, and WOOLY art show

with Lorraine Staunch, Lori Mulligan, and myself!

NOW OPEN AT:

Junction361

24 N Main St

Fairport, NY 14450

https://junction361.com/

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

Carefree Wine Tasting: Pinot Grigio/Gris

I am a dummy about wine.  So, this is all about having fun and enjoying good food and drinks.  It's amazing to discover what we really like once we get beyond price, packaging, and marketing.  And we use our notes later to help with our future purchases for meals and/or gifts.

How it works is simple.  We mark each wine glass and mix them to keep their identity secret.  Then we sip each to look for the smell, taste, texture, acidity, and tannins.  We then do it again with food suggestions we've found from various sources.  Finally, we rank our favorites with and without food ending with an overall winner.  

Note before we begin:  What is the difference between Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris?  They are the same grape, but Pinot Grigio is grown in Italy and Pinot Gris is from France.  Pinot Grigio tends to be harvested earlier too for more crispness and dryer flavor.  As the selection is from California, Oregon, and Italy; they're expected to be very close.

Spasso Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie 2022 (no website)

Color: Soft golden yellow

Nose/Smell: Crisp lemon with faint apple

Taste: Tart apple with buttered herbs

Texure/Mouthfeel: Soft with a little bite at the end

Acid/Cheek: lightly Acidic

Tannin/Gumdryness: Slight-to-medium dryness

Food: 

Clementines: Immediately sour/tart that quickly disappears

Lemon Cookies: Tart-to-sweet.  Brings out the sugars.  Good

Herb Goat Cheese: Super smooth and soft

Lightly Salted Almonds: Punch of sour to start, nutty, then smooth.

Carrots: Mike: neutralized palatte  Megan: Tastes like bad salad

White Chocolate: Bitter that gives way to enhanced chocolate flavor

Underwood Pinot Gris 2021 (https://shop.unionwinecompany.com/collections/underwood/products/2022-underwood-pinot-gris)

Color: Light orange/pink/peach

Nose/Smell: Tart sour apple and strawberry

Taste: Tart with very faint peach, sour apple.  Lingering aftertaste

Texure/Mouthfeel: Rough cotton-to-smooth

Acid/Cheek: Medium acid that disappears

Tannin/Gumdryness: A little dry 

Food: 

Clementines: Mike: smoother, but a little off Megan: Tastes like soap

Lemon Cookies: Mike: Pungent then sweet Megan: Dirty Socks

Herb Goat Cheese: Good, not as tart.  Easy to drink.

Lightly Salted Almonds: Brings out the sour/bitterness.  Makes wine better

Carrots: Mike: neutralized palatte  Megan: eh...

White Chocolate: Good tartness.

Bota Box Pinot Grigio (https://www.botabox.com/wines/pinot-grigio/)

Color: Foggy Light Yellow

Nose/Smell: Citrus/Lemon and grass

Taste: Apple, Citrus/Lemon, Buttery

Texure/Mouthfeel: Smooth and soft with nice tartness

Acid/Cheek: Lightly acidic

Tannin/Gumdryness: Sort of dry on back of tongue

Food: 

Clementines: Really good and full of fruity flavor

Lemon Cookies: Brought out the lemon and went down easy

Herb Goat Cheese: Makes the wine sweet and lemony.  Everything more flavorful

Lightly Salted Almonds: Starts our sweet then lightly sour

Carrots: Mike: neutralized palatte  Megan: yuck

White Chocolate: Paired well, but leaned toward chocolate

Estancia Pinot Grigio 2022 (https://www.estanciawines.com/products/pinot-grigio)

Color: Very light hay/yellow.  Bubbly

Nose/Smell: Mike: Sweet woodsiness Megan: Orange Starburst

Taste: Tart Apple and butter

Texure/Mouthfeel: Smooth with a little roughness/stab at throat

Acid/Cheek: low-to-medium acidity

Tannin/Gumdryness: Lightly dry on the finish

Food: 

Clementines: Less smooth and emphasizes dryness

Lemon Cookies: Immediately bitter and tart  Mike: Fine. Megan: no good

Herb Goat Cheese: Sweet.  Brings out the lemon of the wine.  Mike: Smoothly tart like Sprite pop/soda

Lightly Salted Almonds: All sour and rough

Carrots: Mike: neutralized palatte  Megan: Best wine with carrots

White Chocolate: Like mineral water

BEST PINOT GRIGIO/GRIS ON ITS OWN:

#1 (TIE) Bota Box Pinot Grigio/Spasso Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie 2022

#2 (TIE) Underwood Pinot Gris 2021/Estancia Pinot Grigio 2022

BEST PINOT GRIGIO/GRIS WITH FOOD:

#1 (TIE) Bota Box Pinot Grigio/Spasso Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie 2022

#2 (TIE) Underwood Pinot Gris 2021/Estancia Pinot Grigio 2022

BEST OVERALL PINOT GRIGIO/GRIS:

#1 (TIE) Bota Box Pinot Grigio/Spasso Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie 2022

#2 (TIE) Underwood Pinot Gris 2021/Estancia Pinot Grigio 2022

This was the closest tasting we've ever had.  It only varied a bit with levels of fruit flavor, tartness, smoothness, acid, and dryness.  Most of the differences came from their reaction to food, which had a wide range.  I hope this helps you find something you like.  Maybe you'll have a different experience.  Or you'll share one for us to try next time.  THANKS!

See our other wine tasting results at:

Riesling: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2024/05/carefree-wine-tasting-riesling.html

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/BrightscapesArt/

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

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

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

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

 

Carefree Wine Tasting: Riesling

We are not wine experts.  My wife, Megan, and I enjoy drinking wine with good food.  There's no snobbery here.  It's a blind taste test to see what we really like.  We save our notes for future meals.  And it's all about having fun.  

How it works is simple.  We mark each wine glass and mix them to keep their identity secret.  Then we sip each to look for the smell, taste, texture, acidity, and tannins.  We then do it again with food suggestions we've found from various sources.  Finally, we rank our favorites with and without food ending with an overall winner.  

Frisk Prickly Riesling 2022 (https://www.friskwines.com/)

Nose/Smell: sweet and apple-like

Taste: light peach sweetness with a pop-like tartness

Texure/Mouthfeel: sharp, bubbly

Acid/Cheek: not acidic for Megan, but slightly so for Mike

Tannin/Gumdryness: slight-to-medium dryness

Color: cloudy yellow

Food: 

Spicy Shrimp: mellows the wine

Havarti Cheese: wine more sweet and bubbly flavored

Wheat Crackers: no change and stopped eating crackers as they all had same result

Spicy Nuts: wine has burst of flavor with smooth aftertaste

Prosciutto: wine too sweet

Apple Tart: wine has a burst of tartness that quickly disappears

Lamoreaux Landing Riesling: Semi-dry 2021 (https://www.lamoreauxwine.com/)

Nose/Smell: very ripe pear with woodsiness 

Taste: lightly tart fruit, ripe pear, and earthy minerality 

Texure/Mouthfeel: lightly smooth

Acid/Cheek: lightly tart

Tannin/Gumdryness: lightly dry

Color: light yellow/green

Food: 

Spicy Shrimp: overpowered and could only taste the spice

Havarti Cheese: good and balanced

Spicy Nuts: made wine smooth and creamy

Prosciutto: no good 

Apple Tart: terrible with a sour meat taste

Bota Box Riesling (https://www.botabox.com/)

Nose/Smell: light stone fruit with floral scent

Taste: soft stone fruit/pear.  not too sweet

Texure/Mouthfeel: very smooth and silky

Acid/Cheek: not acidic

Tannin/Gumdryness: little-to-no dryness

Color: very pale yellow, almost white

Notes: highest alcohol content

Food: 

Spicy Shrimp: Brought out shrimp flavor.  Mike thought it made the wine more flavorful

Havarti Cheese: made the wine sweeter and more tart

Spicy Nuts: wine was very smooth and flavorful

Prosciutto: wine was very sweet

Apple Tart: Megan thought it made wine taste salty and bad.  Mike thought it was "fine..."

Dr. Loosen "Dr. L" Riesling 2022 (https://loosenbrosusa.com/)

Nose/Smell: very light fruit, but almost no scent

Taste: minerally/earthy grapefruit.  Almost like Sweet-Tart candy

Texure/Mouthfeel: slightly rough bite with a smooth aftertaste

Acid/Cheek: slightly acidic tartness with light sourness

Tannin/Gumdryness: pretty dry in comparison

Color: very light yellow

Notes: lowest alcohol content.  Possibly harmed by American preservative requirements

Food: 

Spicy Shrimp: shrimp was more pungent, but wine had a better leveled out taste and sweetness

Havarti Cheese: wine more prickly and sweet

Spicy Nuts: Made wine too sweet and tart

Prosciutto: Best of the group, but still not great...

Apple Tart: Made wine salty and gross

BEST RIESLING ON ITS OWN:

#1 Bota Box Riesling

#2 Lamoreaux Landing Riesling: Semi-dry 2021

#3 (TIE) Dr. Loosen "Dr. L" Riesling 2022/Frisk Prickly Riesling 2022

BEST RIESLING WITH FOOD:

#1 Bota Box Riesling

#2 (TIE) Lamoreaux Landing Riesling: Semi-dry 2021/Frisk Prickly Riesling 2022

#3  Dr. Loosen "Dr. L" Riesling 2022

*note: next time, try pork instead of prosciutto.  Use crackers to clean palette.  And avoid apple tarts and similar desserts

BEST OVERALL RIESLING:

#1 Bota Box Riesling (note: with perfect score)

#2 Lamoreaux Landing Riesling: Semi-dry 2021

#3 Frisk Prickly Riesling 2022

#4  Dr. Loosen "Dr. L" Riesling 2022

The "distance" between 1st and 4th place was very small and we'd happily drink all of these wines again.  I hope this helps you find something you like.  Maybe you'll have a different experience.  Or you'll share one for us to try next time.  THANKS!

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/BrightscapesArt/

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

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

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

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

Jazz Martini

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Jazz Martini

acrylic paint on canvas board

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

202310069

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your home, please visit: 

Framed Poster: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/1676485003

Poster: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/1676483113

Digital: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/1676996241

Weekends are for relaxing after a difficult week.  All the mundane burdens are to be forgotten for a couple days.  The sounds of The George Shearing Quintet spinning on the record player.  A shaker of gin and vermouth rattles into a glass.  A perfect moment.

📻 Listen to my interview on NPR's Marketplace at 📻: 

https://www.marketplace.org/2023/12/19/alternative-investments-went-on-a-wild-ride-during-the-pandemic/

ARTS o’ MAGAZINE:

💚☕🚚 An Enchanting Evening At the Golden Ticket 🚚☕💚:

https://medium.com/arts-o-magazine/an-enchanting-evening-at-the-golden-ticket-2f8284be509f?sk=33b86cc2f2c6a46b4b1f3d226312a74c

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

My Relationship With Whiskey Is On the Rocks

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

My Relationship With Whiskey Is On the Rocks #522

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
202305017

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your collection, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/697640393/my-relationship-with-whiskey-is-on-the

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

Extra Salty

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Extra Salty

acrylic paint on canvas board

5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)
202108065

© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/213359742/extra-salty-original-acrylic-painting-5

During Prohibition, Americans would sneak across the Mexican border to drink and illegally smuggle alcohol.  Originally, Margarita's (Spanish for "Daisy") was made with brandy, but it transitioned into using tequila.  It's a drink for everyone as it is sweet, sour, and salty.  No wonder it's the most popular mixed drink in the United States.

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

Having Fun During COVID-19

https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/covid-19coronavirus-resources.html

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MikeKrausBlog

White Russian

 Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

White Russian

acrylic paint on canvas board

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

202106050

© copyright Mike Kraus

For prints, please visit: https://society6.com/product/white-russian-vodka-cream-ice-drinks-alcohol-coffee-liqueur-cherry-kitchen-bar-glass-gifts-dude_print?sku=s6-20818652p4a1v45

For image, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1027009368/white-russian-original-digital-download

Perle Mesta, US ambassador to Luxembourg in 1949, was known for her lavish parties.  So, when she arrived at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels, the barman Gustave Tops wanted to honor her with a new drink.  It's "Russian" because of it's vodka, but has countless other variations like Belgian with chocolate liqueur, Cuban with rum, Canadian with goat's milk, Mexican with horchata, and "dirty" using chocolate milk.  It also co-starred in the 1998 film The Big Lebowski with Jeff Bridges.  "The Dude abides."

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

Having Fun During COVID-19

https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/covid-19coronavirus-resources.html

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:

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MikeKrausBlog

Extra Salty

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Extra Salty

acrylic paint on canvas board

5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)
202106044

© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/213359742/extra-salty-original-acrylic-painting-5

During Prohibition, Americans would sneak across the Mexican border to drink and illegally smuggle alcohol.  Originally, Margarita's (Spanish for "Daisy") was made with brandy, but it transitioned into using tequila.  It's a drink for everyone as it is sweet, sour, and salty.  No wonder it's the most popular mixed drink in the United States.

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

Having Fun During COVID-19

https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/covid-19coronavirus-resources.html

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:

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MikeKrausBlog

Extra Salty; no ICE

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Extra Salty; no ICE!

acrylic paint on canvas board

5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)
201907066

© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/213359742/extra-salty-no-ice-original-acrylic

During Prohibition, Americans would sneak across the Mexican border to drink and illegally import alcohol.  Originally, Margarita's (Spanish for "Daisy") was made with brandy, but it transitioned into using tequila.  It's a drink for everyone as it is sweet, sour, and salty.  No wonder it's the most popular mixed drink in the United States.

This painting would look best in a small space that is red, orange, yellow, green, dark blue, purple, black, white, gray, beige. 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.

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Jakelin was a 7-year-old fleeing gang infested Guatemala.  

Felipe Gómez Alonzo died of an infection and the flu at 8-years-old

Juan de León Gutiérrez was 16-years-old when he died from an infection.

A 2-year-old died of pneumonia.

These are just a few of the 15,000 children imprisoned by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and other United States Government Agencies and their for-profit contractors.  They are being kept in concrete cells, deprived of basic necessities, and starving from hunger.  The filth they are forced to live in has led to flu, lice, and respiratory outbreaks, that are purposefully being neglected.  And guards punish these children for minor offences by taking away their blankets, mats, and forcing them to sleep directly on the concrete floor (Southern Poverty Law Center)

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 (United Nations). After a dangerous journey, we deny them their rights to asylum (Amnesty International), we kidnap and lose their children (American Civil Liberties Union), cage and sexually assault kids (New York Times), and deny them due process and indefinite imprisonment at detention/internment/concentration camps (Los Angeles Times).  We're allowing them to die in these terrible conditions (NBC News).  And we arrest and try to imprison good, Christians who provide food and water to those in need (The Guardian).

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/