Showing posts with label scratchboard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scratchboard. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 6, 2022

In Da Moonlight

 Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


In Da Moonlight
scratchboard
5" x 7" in a vintage frame (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm in a vintage frame)
© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

Nights are longer here. Only shadows dance in the moonlight of the old farm. Howls and secretive footsteps can be heard, but nothing seen, in the nearby fields. The darkness is honest away from civilization. Much like the people that live in this neck of the woods.

Is the night quiet or loud where you live?  Some neighborhoods have lots of traffic and sirens.  Others are only populated by nocturnal animals sneaking around.  Either way, what is the moon like where you are?

This piece would work in almost any small space that is red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white, 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:



Wednesday, November 9, 2016

In Da Moonlight

In Da Moonlight, 2016
scratchboard
5" x 7" in a vintage frame (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm in a vintage frame)
© copyright Mike Kraus

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

Nights are longer here. Only shadows dance in the moonlight of the old farm. Howls and secretive footsteps can be heard, but nothing seen, in the nearby fields. The darkness is honest away from civilization. Much like the people that live in this neck of the woods.

This piece would work in almost any space that is red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white, beige or wood.

For more information or custom order, please visit:


Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Night Birch

Night Birch, 2015
Scratchboard
7 "x 8" in a frame (17.8 cm x 20.3 cm in a frame)
© copyright Mike Kraus

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

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 has saturated rich colors 

For more information or custom order, please visit:



Monday, April 27, 2015

Night Birch

Night Birch, 2015
Scratchboard
4 "x 6" in a frame (10.2 cm x 15.2 cm in a frame)
© copyright Mike Kraus
To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/230945385/night-birch-original-scratchboard-4-x-6?

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 has saturated rich colors 

For more information or custom order, please visit:


Saturday, April 11, 2015

Night Birch

Night Birch, 2015
Scratchboard
8" x 10" in a frame (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm in a frame)
© copyright Mike Kraus

20% OFF with my special anniversary coupon code 1YEARFUN

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 has saturated rich colors 

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Saturday, April 4, 2015

Night Birch

Night Birch, 2015
Scratchboard
4" x 6" in a frame (10.2 cm x 15.2 cm in a frame)
© copyright Mike Kraus

Use my special anniversary coupon code 1YEARFUN and get 20% OFF

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 has saturated rich colors 

For more information or custom order, please visit:



Thursday, March 27, 2014

WELCOME TO MIKE KRAUS' ART SHOP!

WELCOME TO MIKE KRAUS' ART SHOP!


I hope you find something you like. If you're unable to find something or saw an item on this blog you liked, please let me know and I may be able to create something special for you.  THANKS AGAIN!


Deep Red Birch Forest, 2014
acrylic and ink on canvas board
8" x 6"



White Birch, 2014
acrylic and ink on paper
6" x 6" in an 8 1/2" x 10 1/2" frame

Dark Green Birch Forest, 2014
acrylic and ink on canvas board
6" x 8"


Blue Birch, 2014
acrylic on canvas board
6" x 8"



Night Birch, 2014
scratchboard
7" x 5" in an 11 1/2" x 9 1/2" frame


White Birch Forest, 2014
acrylic and ink on canvas board
8" x 6"


THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT!




If you need anything or have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me:
MikeKKraus@gmail.com

Thursday, March 20, 2014

In Da Moonlight

In Da Moonlight, 2014
scratchboard
© copyright Mike Kraus

Nights are longer here.  Only shadows dance in the moonlight of the old farm.  Howls and secretive footsteps can be heard, but nothing seen, in the nearby fields.  The darkness is honest away from civilization.  Much like the people that live in this neck of the woods.

Friday, February 7, 2014

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?

Monday, January 20, 2014

The Galleria of Michael Kraus

Cleaned out my childhood bedroom last fall to make room for a new home office.  Found some stuff that I hope you enjoy.

"State and Madison Streets, Chicago", Pen and ink, 1999: The first piece of art I created at the School of the Art Institute (SAIC).  This was the view from my dorm (the Chicago building, which they renamed Jones Hall).  Classes hadn't started yet and I was trying to get use to moving from a town of 22,000 to a world-class city of 2.9 million people.  First thing they teach you in art school is to use something nicer than 20lbs copy paper.  This is an example why...

"Dorm", pen and ink, 1999: Another drawing I did in my dorm right before classes started.  This is a view of my roommate's side of the room.  

This was a series I started and never finished in 2004.  I believe this was for some project or show that never took place or something.  I forget.  But, it did lead to me creating a bunch more of these that I gave away to quite a few people.

"Leaving Iraq", scratchboard,  2004:  

"The Pizza Man and His Girlfriend (dark)", scratchboard, 2004:  

"The Pizza Man and His Girlfriend (light)", scratchboard, 2004:   

"Jacquie", scratchboard, 2004:  

"Back Alley", scratchboard, 2002:  Again, another view from my dorm at SAIC.  But, this the 162 N. State St. building.  The side of the Oriental Theatre is to the left and the ABC 7 building is straight ahead.  I was never bored living at an art school dorm in downtown Chicago.

"J.T. Law self titled cassette album cover (original)" pen and computer, 1999: Punk rock!  You couldn't get more DIY than this.  The artwork is a collage of photographs from various shows and activities we participated in.  A police officer that tried shutting down one of our shows actually made it in three times.  Hand drawn logo and band information.  Some snazzy work using scissors and glue with the song titles.  A friend of ours that worked at the copy shop of an office supply store printed a ton of these for us for free.  And, that's doesn't include recording the music ourselves in the studio.

 "J.T. Law Kids Flyer (copy)", computer, 1999: Nothing like appropriating strange photos for punk show flyers.  For the band, zine, etc, I use to have stacks of images from newspapers and magazines to use for various promotional items.  I'd pass out hundreds of these school and then drop them off all over town after 3pm.  The Big Wheels was a local powerhouse out of Montague.  J.F.K. (Just For Kicks) was a group with played with a few times out of Grand Rapids.  And Hoppin' Mad was from the Detroit area, I think...

"Monkey On a Hog Flyer (copy)", computer, 1999: Another show at Palmer Hall.  I remember going through the yellow pages calling every banquet, bingo, and reception hall in the county to try to find a place that would allow a minor to put on a concert.  They were one of a very few and they allowed me to do so frequently.  If I still lived in Muskegon, I'd love to buy that place and turn it into a venue as we always did well there.  I'd love to see the Wack Trucks, Temple of Doom, and "a mystery band" again.

"J.T. Law Tape Release Show with Liver Dye! (copy)", computer, 1999: The Ice Pick was an infamous venue.  The owner was in a constant battle with the police.  The graffiti all over the plywood walls.  The worst bathroom you could imagine.  Beer bottle dodging for every member of the band.  And, that's the tame stuff...  This was a memorable show.  And, if you've ever seen Liver Dye, you'll never forget them.

"Schism Zine One-Year Anniversary Show Flyer (original)", mixed media, 1999: By far, the greatest show I've ever been a part of.  Stephanie Rose was amazing at pulling this off.  For six hours, you could see Misled Youth, JFK, J.T Law (before I joined the group), The Big Wheels, The Addictives, Skeptics, and the Bounty Hunters.  To be in the show, we required each band to print and distribute at least 500 flyers.  It worked really well because we had people from as far as Detroit and Chicago show up.  It turned into a parking nightmare and when the only two police officers of the town arrived they decided it was better to pretend they didn't know this was going on than to try to shut us down.  If only I had a VCR, because I found a video tape that someone recorded and gave to me of the show as well.

And, if you're looking for some art, let me know.

To see more of my stuff, please visit:

If you like this, you might like...

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...