Mike Kraus: water

Monday, January 22, 2024

Magpie Trees

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Magpie Trees

acrylic paint on canvas board

8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201903025

To purchase for your home, please visit: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/190352538

Simplicity, patience, compassion.

These three are your greatest treasures.

Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.

Patient with both friends and enemies,

you accord with the way things are.

Compassionate toward yourself,

you reconcile all beings in the world.

― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

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

📻 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:

🖼 Refuge From An Indifferent World 🖼:

https://medium.com/arts-o-magazine/refuge-from-an-indifferent-world-8ef888cb076c?sk=7aa2d740086383edba1dd0a1fe593c48

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Store: http://MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Friday, August 18, 2023

Honeoye Lake

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Honeoye Lake

acrylic paint on canvas board

8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
202308053

To purchase for your home or cottage, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/239115439/honeoye-lake-original-acrylic-painting-8

The shallow waters of Honeoye Lake felt warm for such a brisk morning. My rowboat lazily bobbing on the gentle waves. I watch the sun gradually rise in the sky only interrupted by the occasional perch, bass, or walleye tugging on the fishing line. At noon, I haul my boat ashore to fry my catch-of-the-day. If this isn't nice, what is?

How do you connect with nature? What did you enjoy doing outside during your youth? Do you still enjoy it and why?

This painting would look best in an average space that is red, yellow, orange, green, dark blue, white, black, grey, beige, or wood.

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ARTS o’ MAGAZINE:

Art During Difficulty

https://medium.com/p/7a2e2aeb6802

& Interview With Mike Kraus

https://medium.com/arts-o-magazine/mike-krause-9dd86995d76c

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Friday, June 30, 2023

Lamoreaux Landing On Seneca Lake

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Lamoreaux Landing On Seneca Lake

acrylic paint on canvas board

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

202306032

To purchase for your cottage, please visit: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/244918007

A cool breeze comes off the calm, deep waters of Seneca Lake as we hike the shoreline. We've found our spot to enjoy our picnic lunch from roadside stands paid on the honor system and bottle of local Gewurztraminer wine. Just relaxing and appreciating the panoramic view. There's a sweet scent coming from the vineyard as we smirk at our dog running aimlessly through the field. And we're fortunate to know that feeling like this comes from being outdoors.

Summer is happening right now. Don't forget to capture that feeling.

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

ARTS o’ MAGAZINE:

Culture of Action

https://medium.com/arts-o-magazine/culture-of-action-a54ce2c6209d

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Friday, March 10, 2023

Rhône River at Avignon

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Rhône River at Avignon

acrylic paint on canvas board

8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201803041

To purchase for your home, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/232785261/rhone-river-at-avignon-original-acrylic

On the left bank of the Rhône River nestles the city of Avignon. A slight bend in the river that has been a destination for the Greeks, Romans, Popes, and countless others. And the Pont d'Avignon (the Pont Saint-Bénézet) is the last of many bridges trying to reach the other side. Previous attempts have been destroyed in war, ruined by floods, or doomed to failure by poor engineering. But what it lacks in function, it excels in adding to the beauty of a marvelous city.

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Friday, February 24, 2023

On the Shores of Toulon, France

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

On the Shores of Toulon, France

acrylic paint on canvas board

8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
201803046

To purchase for your home, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/189688164/on-the-shores-of-toulon-france-original

It's the perfect day at the beach. A hot sun overhead as we wade in the warm water. The breeze gently pushing the sailboats around the harbor. We refill our adult sippy cups with rosé and enjoy floating around in the blue waters. There's an alternating scent of sweet flora and the salty sea. We've found our paradise.

What is your happiest memory?

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Friday, February 10, 2023

Honeoye Lake

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Honeoye Lake

acrylic paint on canvas board

16" x 20" (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm)
201806084

To purchase for your home or cottage, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/622648587/honeoye-lake-original-acrylic-painting-8

The shallow waters of Honeoye Lake felt warm for such a brisk morning. My boat lazily bobbing on the gentle waves. I watch the sun gradually rise in the sky only interrupted by the occasional perch, bass, or walleye tugging on the fishing line. At noon, I haul my boat ashore to fry my catch-of-the-day. If this isn't nice, what is?

How do you connect with nature? What did you enjoy doing outside during your youth? Do you still enjoy it and why?

This painting would look best in an average space that is red, yellow, orange, green, dark blue, white, black, grey, beige, or wood.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Friday, February 3, 2023

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

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:

Monday, July 11, 2022

Rachel and Ben's Canandaigua Sunflowers

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Rachel and Ben's Canandaigua Sunflowers

acrylic paint on canvas board

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

202106046

For image, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1266297363/rachel-and-bens-canandaigua-sunflowers

or reproductions at: https://society6.com/product/rachel-and-bens-canandaigua-sunflowers-original-digital-download-by-mike-kraus-art-new-york-upstate-ny-finger-lakes-flx-summer-cottages_recessed-framed-print?sku=s6-24569173p135a294v1004a295v1005

The warm breeze rushes through the car as we drive down country roads with our windows down. Every bend reveals new sights. Every hill a new perspective on the panorama. It's a yearly ritual for us to visit sunflower fields as they bloom. A day full of hiking and picnics among the waves of petals. It's the little things in life that make us grateful.

Let's start being kinder to others and ourselves with the Kindness Challenge at: https://www.kindspring.org/challenge/?op=nletter&cid=2153&id=59060

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, May 4, 2022

Canandaigua Lake

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Canandaigua Lake

acrylic paint on canvas

36" x 48" (91.4 cm x 121.9 cm)

201708083

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/247433935/canandaigua-lake-original-acrylic

Why Invest In Original Art? A great way to add your personality to a room is by decorating the walls with artwork. Big box stores offer a lot of cheap options with prints, posters, and other mass produced options. But, they lose their value immediately and rarely earn more than a few bucks years later in a garage sale. So, if you're trying to freshen up a tired space, redecorating, or a new home-owner, you may want to consider investing in original artwork.

Can you tell me what "original art" is? "Original art" is an unique one of a kind piece, like Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night painting hanging in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. A "reproduction" is a photographic copy of the painting that has it's image placed on posters, mouse pads, coffee mugs, t-shirts, and anything else you can imagine. Somewhere between the two are "limited edition" prints made by photographers, screen printers, etchers, and other graphic artists that promise to limit the quantity of their copies usually to less than 200 replications.

Please visit: http://mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/art-investing.html for some advice to consider in purchasing original artwork.

This painting would look best in a large space, over a fire place or couch. It would work best with the colors red, green, yellow, orange, dark 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:

Monday, March 28, 2022

The Beach In Albufeira, Portugal

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

The Beach In Albufeira, Portugal

acrylic paint on canvas board

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

201705054

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/518945504/the-beach-in-albufeira-portugal-original

The intense sun is blasting the golden beach sand. The only relief is the cool breeze coming off the Atlantic. That and a couple of glasses of chilled vinho verde. The waves crash adding the distinct saltiness of the sea to the air. Days don't get more perfect that this.

When I need to relax, this is where my mind takes me. Where does your mind take you? Is it some place far away or a cozy spot close to home? Are you by yourself or with a loved one? Our imaginations are a superpower.

This piece would great in almost space that is red, orange, green, dark blue, purple, black, white, beige, 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:

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

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

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:

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

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

On the Shores of Lake Michigan

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

On the Shores of Lake Michigan #462

gouache 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)

202110093

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1097209298/on-the-shores-of-lake-michigan-462-for

This artist trading card or ACEO (Art Card Editions and Originals) is frameable, 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. It is signed on the back and lends itself to framing in a standard trading card frame or book.

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

Having Fun During COVID-19

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: