Showing posts with label whiskey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label whiskey. Show all posts

Monday, May 15, 2023

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.


IT'S OFFICIAL!  
I've accepted the role of writer for 
ARTS o’ MAGAZINE:  

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:

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

The Maple Tree

 Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


The Maple Tree
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
© copyright Mike Kraus

The warm sun is setting on another steamy summer day.  Waves of heat rise from the fields.  The color of the sky changes every second.  The shade of the Maple tree dissipates as it is no longer needed protection from the sun.  It has other ways to be a refuge at night

This painting would great in a space that is deep red, orange, yellow, light green, blue, light 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 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.

Friday, May 22, 2020

My Gift To You For Memorial Day Weekend!

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


An overstuffed hatchback speeds through an endless expanse of prairie to a long-forgotten Midwestern town.  This extraordinary novel follows Luke on an odyssey of calamity and humor during a summer of uncertainty.

With a bottle of Whiskey, Luke courts mischief with his friend Anabelle, takes care of his grandfather, fails to understand Monica, while working multiple side jobs-a snapshot of a time and place.  From the boarded up storefronts, through the quiet factories, to the well-manicured suburbs, Luke is aloof as he walks the miles of potholed streets of his hometown wondering what the future holds.

From humble beginnings and questionable hopes, Luke knows that his time home will be limited before he's forced toward his destiny.  What dreams, traditions, and relationships will survive these tumultuous days? 





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:

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Signs of Summa

 SUMMER IS FINALLY HERE!  To celebrate, Megan is sipping a fine beer waiting for me to build the fire up enough for s'mores.  Hurry up Mike!  S'MORES!

We have reached peak s'more roasting 

Congrats Maureen on an amazing show.  So many fun pieces and lots of fun people.  It was another great opening at Whitman Works (https://www.whitmanworks.com/). 

These are completely awesome.  I want to rehang this somewhere in my house.  So, I need to build a new wall somewhere soon... 

 The Rockin' Rocking House

Sports Illustrated Puppy Edition photo shoot.  Even Scout needed a pool day.   

Megan trained her to stick her tongue out at the camera 

Into the pool 

It's Ariel: The Little Mermaid 

My pool accessories 

Scout's enjoying this a little too much... 

A dog should not like floating in a pool this much... 

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

The Maple Tree

The Maple Tree, 2016
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
© copyright Mike Kraus

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

The warm sun is setting on another steamy summer day.  Waves of heat rise from the fields.  The color of the sky changes every second.  The shade of the Maple tree dissipates as it is no longer needed protection from the sun.  It has other ways to be a refuge at night

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:

I'll be one of the artists at KettleFest 2016 on Saturday September 17th!




Friday, June 17, 2016

The Maple Tree

The Maple Tree, 2016
acrylic paint on canvas board
8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm)
© copyright Mike Kraus

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

The warm sun is setting on another steamy summer day.  Waves of heat rise from the fields.  The color of the sky changes every second.  The shade of the Maple tree dissipates as it is no longer needed protection from the sun.  It has other ways to be a refuge at night

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

For more information or custom order, please visit:





Wednesday, May 15, 2013

When Wishes Come True!

 photo 100_6155_zps698e5fc2.jpg
Celebrating Megan and Dave's birthdays!  So many cakes, so little time.

 photo 100_6153_zps81459952.jpg
Cabin Fever maple flavored whisky.  The question is this a small bottle or a really large hand?

 photo 100_6150_zps1f6c1d89.jpg
She'll never look this new or shiny again.  Broke out the Honda HRX217HZA lawnmower and took it out for a test drive.  See what it could do.  Lots of child safety features.  Never thought I'd have to read an instruction manual on how to pour gas from a gas can before.  Some trial and error on the multiple levers and buttons on the mower itself.  The kids may be safe, but the adult driving the mower is in way more danger just keeping track of all the switches...


 photo 100_6151_zps1cfe168f.jpg
Choose your own adventure: Honey I Shrunk the Kids or Mike's Front Lawn?  HERE COMES THE MOWER!

 photo 100_6152_zpsf37619f7.jpg
The lawn is even.  My life is now complete...

 photo 100_6149_zpsd804c4b0.jpg
Getting ready for Mike and Rosie's wedding at the cabin...

Detroit Red Wings vs. the Chicago Blackhawks starts tonight.  Megan's trying to convince me that "playoff beard" isn't as effective as "playoff clean-shaven."  But, I think she has motives other than hockey...

If you like this, you might like...

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...