Let's Enjoy the Last Days of Summer!

 Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

August is for roasting s'mores on brisk nights at the backyard fire pit.  Sharing stories while your furry family member snores under your chair.  Appreciating the peaceful hooting of an owl and the sparks of the fireflies.

Home is a special place.  It's where you make memories with the people you love.  A place that reveals who you really are and how you'd like the world to be.  So surround yourself with joy and happiness.

Your Friend,

Mike Kraus
MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

PS - The Artist Trading Card (& small art) Festival opens August 8th:
https://www.facebook.com/events/2546314848837846/?active_tab=discussion

Artist sign up for the Awesome Autumn Art Festival has begun at: https://www.facebook.com/events/594136385689883/?active_tab=discussion

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

The Roaring Factory In Ruins Waiting To Be Demolished

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

The Roaring Factory In Ruins Waiting To Be Demolished

acrylic paint on canvas board

8" x 10" (17.8 cm x 22.9 cm)

202205017

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/184035042/roaring-factory-original-acrylic

The oldest part of the factory was opened along the lakeshore by a German immigrant in 1899.  Raw materials flowed in from the many tributaries to feed its machinery.  Not only did it ship its products worldwide, but it was the center of a community that was built around it.  What happens to us now that it is gone?

We don't mourn the loss of the foul and horrid structure.  But it was the glue that bound friends and neighbors to a common interior life.  It overwhelmed all of our senses and its success became our success.  How do we keep a community that is no longer working together?  We can still be friends and neighbors even if we disagree on what to do next. 

This piece would work in a small space that is red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, light 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 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

The Roaring Factory In Ruins Waiting To Be Demolished

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

The Roaring Factory In Ruins Waiting To Be Demolished

acrylic paint on canvas board

7" x 9" (17.8 cm x 22.9 cm)

202203007

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/184035042/roaring-factory-original-acrylic

The oldest part of the factory was opened along the lakeshore by a German immigrant in 1899.  Raw materials flowed in from the many tributaries to feed its machinery.  Not only did it ship its products worldwide, but it was the center of a community that was built around it.  What happens to us now that it is gone?

We don't mourn the loss of the foul and horrid structure.  But it was the glue that bound friends and neighbors to a common interior life.  It overwhelmed all of our senses and its success became our success.  How do we keep a community that is no longer working together?  We can still be friends and neighbors even if we disagree on what to do next. 

This piece would work in a small space that is dark red, dark orange, yellow, 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 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

The Sentry

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

The Sentry

pen, ink, and graphite on bristol paper

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

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/241872331/the-sentry-original-ink-drawing-5-x-7-by

The streets can be a dangerous place.  Strange noises coming from the alleys.  Suspicious people on the street corner.  Cars slowing down as they pass you from behind walking on the sidewalk.  That is why there is: The Sentry.

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

The Sentry

 The Sentry, 2016

pen, ink, and graphite on bristol paper

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

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/241872331/the-sentry-original-ink-drawing-5-x-7-by

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

FREE SHIPPING IN THE UNITED STATES

The streets can be a dangerous place.  Strange noises coming from the alleys.  Suspicious people on the street corner.  Cars slowing down as they pass you from behind walking on the sidewalk.  That is why there is: The Sentry.

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MikeKrausArt

Meerkat Assembly Plant

Meerkat Assembly Plant, 2014

pen and ink

4" x 6" in a 5 1/4" x 7 1/4" frame 

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/202039258/meerkat-assembly-plant-original-ink?

Science and technology can improve the meerkat.  To challenge what it means to be a meerkat.  Why be only 10 inches tall when you could be six foot tall?  Demand for large meerkats is expected to high as insect and lizard populations are projected to explode due to global climate change.  Of course, this will help Mother Nature stay in balance.

This drawing would look great in any space with its neutral color and frame.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MikeKrausArt

Get 10% OFF your purchase using coupon code: JOINtheFUN

Good Night Factory

Good Night Factory, 2014

scratchboard

© copyright Mike Kraus

The Acropolis or Coliseum of the Industrial Age.  Ruins commonly found throughout the Rust Belt.  The upheaval that occurred as families left the manual labor of their farms for the power-driven manufacturing of monolithic corporations.  A complicated artificial bond that brought gains in efficiency, medicine, and life expectancy as well as ecological damage, dehumanization, and greater inequality.  A dysfunctional relationship that scars entire regions as production is automated or leaves for poverty-stricken districts desperate for menial wages.  What happens to people when we are no longer needed?

Megan's Time To Tell A Story (As Told By Mike Kraus)

Mr. and Mrs. Pape!  Megan went down to Florida to celebrate Mary and Andrew's wedding last weekend and had a great time.  Unfortunately, I had to stay home...



Do you remember Ronan?  He's was one of the groomsmen at our wedding and now living in Tampa, Florida (apparently working as a villain of some sort).



Megan showing off her Sound of Music skills by making a dress out of tablecloth...



Megan was very excited to show me this drive thru convenience store.  I have to say Americans have no limits to their love of automobiles and that's why gas is $4 a gallon.


 
Inside the store






Jackie and Ronan on a canoe with Megan in a swamp full of alligators, snakes, and other creatures.  Knowing them, I find it odd this was the activity of their choice.  Megan had a great time in Florida and that is all I know...



What did I do on "Wifeless Weekend 2011?"  Let's see, draw another piece of "apocalypse art," enjoyed 80 degree weather around the parks, dinner with the in-laws, and making a huge mess of the apartment that had to be cleaned up by 1am Monday morning when the lady got back. 


That's it for now.  Time to work on some more graphic design stuff for Lollypop Farm...