iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 5h

NOW OPEN!!! 🍁 Freedom Fall 🍁 Join an online gathering celebrating creativity, Free Expression, stories, and community. Bring your art, ideas, voice, curiosity, & help create a space where people can create, connect, speak freely, and belong. www.facebook.com/groups/19344... #art #festival #event

Vintage weathered retail storefront sign with blue background displaying welcoming text 'Come in WE'RE OPEN' in multiple colors and font styles. The words 'Come in' are rendered in light blue cursive font with white outline, creating an inviting, flowing appearance. The word 'WE'RE' is displayed in white text with a subtle red outline. The word 'OPEN' is rendered in bright, vibrant red with a yellow shadow effect, drawing attention to the business being open for customers.

The edges and borders of the sign show worn, weathered brown coloring, indicating age and extended outdoor exposure. This weathering gives the sign character and suggests it has welcomed customers for many years. The combination of worn edges with bold, colorful text creates visual contrast between the sign's age and its welcoming message.

This style of sign is typical of small retail businesses, cafes, shops, and service establishments that display operating status to passersby. The worn, vintage aesthetic suggests an established business with history and reliability. Multiple text colors and styles create visual hierarchy, emphasizing the most important information about the business being open and welcoming to customers.

The sign serves both functional and aesthetic purpose, communicating business hours while adding charm and character to a storefront entrance. This type of signage has become iconic in retail culture, representing the warmth and accessibility of small businesses that serve their local communities.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

🍂 What do you listen to when the leaves start to fall? 🍂 Here is a playlist for changing seasons, lost things, and finding beauty in what remains. If you like Gregory Alan Isakov, Al Green, or @theneilyoung.bsky.social, you might discover something new here 🎵 open.spotify.com/playlist/38C...

Autumn forest landscape photograph or artwork featuring a vibrant autumn scene. Bright orange trees dominate the composition, conveying peak fall seasonal color. The ground and fallen leaves glow with yellow and red highlights, suggesting either natural sunlight or artistic enhancement creating luminous warmth.

The sky is rendered in vibrant blue, providing strong contrast to the warm autumn foliage below. At the horizon, the sky transitions to blue and purple tones, creating atmospheric depth and suggesting either dawn, dusk, or artistic color choice.

Tree trunks throughout the forest glow with purple light, an artistic choice that emphasizes the magical, dreamlike quality of the scene and creates visual unity with the horizon colors.

A grey path is visible in the bottom center of the composition, rising upward and curving toward the right, inviting the viewer's eye through the landscape. The path suggests a journey through this beautiful autumn forest.

This image serves as promotional artwork for an autumn playlist designed for changing seasons, lost things, and finding beauty in what remains. The music is described as indie folk, with suggested comparisons to artists like Gregory Alan Isakov, Al Green, and Neil Young.

The artistic rendering of this autumn landscape captures themes of transition, loss, and the enduring beauty found in seasonal change. The glowing highlights and vibrant colors emphasize how autumn, despite being a season of decline and loss, contains spectacular natural beauty. The path invites contemplation of a journey through this season of change, making the visual complement to music about transitions, loss, and discovered beauty.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Wandering Wednesday: 👨‍🎤 When music and visual art meet 👨‍🎤 mikekraus.blogspot.com/2026/09/wand... #BrinkerJames #collaboration #FriendshipGoals #Fallen #WoodenShield #album #NewMusic #art

Live performance photograph of Ben Saunders from indie folk duo Brinker James. Ben is seated on a tall stool, holding an acoustic guitar and performing into a microphone positioned close to his mouth. The intimate staging and positioning suggest a close connection between performer and audience.

The background is filled with lush, vibrant green trees, suggesting an outdoor venue setting surrounded by natural landscape. This natural backdrop creates an organic, earthy atmosphere for the musical performance.

Visible in the composition are wooden stage support structures that hold mason jar lights, creating warm, ambient lighting for the performance. The mason jar lights provide a rustic, intimate aesthetic that complements the indie folk genre and the unplugged, acoustic nature of the performance.

The overall composition captures the essence of independent music performance, where technical production takes a backseat to direct connection between musician and listener. The natural setting, simple staging, and focus on acoustic instrumentation and vocals emphasize the songwriting and musicianship at the heart of Brinker James' work.

This image represents the live performance aspect of the Wooden Shield album experience, where the visual and musical elements come together to create an immersive artistic statement. The intimate scale and natural setting contrast with the larger themes of the album about mortality, change, and acceptance.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

⚖️💀 What Happens When the Law Itself Becomes Something to Fear? 💀⚖️ ⚖️💀 Decisions of Destiny 💀⚖️ To step inside this little nightmare and meet the original, please visit: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/7075... or buy direct at: mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/buy-direct... #halloween #ArtistTradingCard #ACEO

ACEO artist trading card featuring a skeleton judge rendered in dark political satire. The figure wears a traditional black judicial robe with a red tie visible beneath. The judge's face has been replaced entirely with a skull, emphasizing the theme of corruption draining humanity from institutions meant to serve justice.

The eye sockets and hollow spaces within the skull are rendered in maroon tones, creating a haunting visual that suggests corruption, moral decay, and the death of justice. A sickly yellow-green light emanates from the skeletal figure, adding to the unsettling atmosphere and suggesting contamination or corruption from within.

This artwork is commentary on judicial corruption, conflicts of interest, undisclosed gifts from wealthy donors, and the erosion of judicial impartiality when personal enrichment takes precedence over the law. The skeleton imagery represents the death of justice itself when judges prioritize personal gain over their Constitutional duty.

The work explores how corruption in the judiciary reaches far beyond courtroom decisions, affecting families struggling with mortgages, healthcare, and basic needs. When those entrusted with interpreting law use their power to enrich themselves and strengthen authoritarian movements, democracy itself suffers.

The sickly light surrounding the figure suggests a toxic corruption that pervades the institution. The red tie represents the appearance of respectability and authority that conceals underlying decay and self-interest.

This ACEO serves as a reminder that monsters can hide behind robes, marble, and the language of the law. The most frightening disguise of all is authority without accountability. It asks viewers to consider how the choices made by those in power shape the destiny of families and nations, and what kind of society we become when judicial corruption goes unchecked.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

🦫 Do You Prefer Your Beaver Wild, Natural, and a Little Fluffy? 🦫 🦫 Nice Gnawing You 🦫 Ready to bring this mischievous little beaver home? Please visit: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/2489... or buy direct at: mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/buy-direct... #MikeKrausArt #beaver #artwork #whimsical #animal

Beaver portrait painting rendered in a quarter-turn pose, facing right. The beaver is depicted with its paws held together just below its mouth in a characteristic pose. Its large, distinctive tail is angled at approximately 65 degrees, extending upward from the body in a dynamic gesture that suggests movement and personality.

The background is rendered in warm yellowish and orange tones, creating a cohesive, warm color palette. Behind the beaver, the background features abstracted and surrealistic plants and shapes, suggesting a natural environment while maintaining an artistic, imaginative quality rather than photorealistic representation.

The painting style emphasizes personality and whimsy, presenting the beaver as a character with attitude and charm. The composition invites viewers to consider the beaver's perspective and personality as an independent, creative individual who prefers solitude, builds according to its own vision, and maintains a mischievous spirit.

The artwork is titled 'Nice Gnawing You,' a playful reference to the beaver's natural behaviors while also serving as a greeting to those who encounter this character. The painting celebrates individuality, creativity, self-determination, and the value of creating a personal space that reflects one's true nature and personality.

This original painting is part of the artist's 'Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty' collection, which explores themes of belonging, authenticity, and finding beauty in unexpected places. The beaver character represents people who prefer unconventional paths, who create their own worlds rather than conforming to others' expectations, and who appreciate humor and whimsy in life and art.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

🍂 YOU'RE INVITED TO THE FABULOUS FALL ART FESTIVAL 🍂 🎨 Discover beautiful artwork. 💬 Meet creative people. ❤️ Find something special. October 5th to 7th. What are you hoping to discover? www.facebook.com/events/14085... #artist #show #event #party #parties #jewelry #ceramics #painting #draw #fun

Lake Ontario landscape photograph from beach perspective during autumn fall season. The composition features a serene view of the calm water of Lake Ontario with big, billowing white clouds dominating the sky above, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

A small creek winds through the foreground, flowing from the viewer's vantage point toward and into the calm lake waters. This natural waterway element adds depth and invites the eye through the composition.

The foreground is filled with bright red trees in full autumn foliage, capturing the peak seasonal color change. These vibrant red trees create a warm, energetic frame for the cooler tones of the lake and sky. Among the predominantly red trees is a smaller green tree visible in the bottom right corner, providing color contrast and suggesting the diversity of the natural landscape even as most deciduous trees have transitioned to fall colors.

The overall composition balances warm autumn colors in the foreground with cool blues and whites of the sky and water, creating visual harmony. The calm lake surface reflects the peaceful mood of the scene.

This image serves as artwork for the Fabulous Fall Art Festival, an event scheduled for October 5-7. The festival invites people to discover beautiful artwork, meet creative people, and find something special within a community-focused celebration of art and creativity. The serene Lake Ontario landscape sets the tone for an event that honors natural beauty, artistic expression, and human connection within a welcoming creative community.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

🍁 Freedom Fall 🍁 October 2-4. Online gathering celebrating creativity, Free Expression, and community. Bring your art, ideas, voice, curiosity. Create. Connect. Speak freely. Belong. RSVP: www.facebook.com/events/14436... #FallOfFreedom #ArtsCommunity #TakeAction #America #USA #Freedom #Liberty

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

🔥💀 Is Everything Really Okay? 💀🔥 🔥💀 It's Okay Skeleton no. 629 💀🔥 For a spooky moment, please visit: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/2090... or buy direct at: mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/buy-direct... #ArtistTradingCard #ATC #ACEO #ArtistTradingCards #Halloween #skeleton #spooky #haunted #scary #beer

ACEO artist trading card titled 'It's Okay Skeleton no. 629' featuring a cartoon skeleton character rendered with dark humor and satire. The skeleton holds a cigarette in its right hand and a bottle labeled 'It's Fine Beer' in its left hand, pouring the beer into its mouth from a distance with the liquid spilling everywhere in chaotic fashion.

The background is rendered in bold, warm colors of yellow, orange, and red that suggest flames or fire, creating visual tension between the casualness of the skeleton's pose and the urgency suggested by the burning background.

This ACEO is a commentary on anxiety, stress, mental health, and the human tendency to deny or minimize serious problems. The skeleton pretends that everything is under control while simultaneously engaging in behaviors associated with stress coping: smoking and drinking excessively. The title 'It's Okay' is ironic, emphasizing the disconnect between what the figure claims and what the image depicts.

The artwork uses dark humor and satire to explore themes of denial, the performance of being fine when struggling internally, and the ways people mask their true emotional state with forced positivity. The spilling beer and chaotic composition convey internal turmoil disguised by external composure.

This original artwork is created with pen and colored pencil on Bristol paper in the small ACEO format, 2.5x3.5 inches. It is a limited original, not a print or reproduction. The piece resonates with audiences who appreciate artistic commentary on mental health, anxiety, and the societal pressure to appear fine even during difficult times. It is available for purchase as an original collectible artist trading card.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

🛋️💀 What’s it like when even the couches are afraid of you? 💀🛋️ 🛋️💀 Blursed Decisions of Destiny 💀🛋️ For a spooky moment, please visit mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/7432... or buy direct mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/buy-direct... #Halloween #Skeleton #Skull #DietMountainDew #ChildlessCatLadies #epstein

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

🍁 IT'S OPEN! 🍁 The Awesome Autumn Art Festival starts today! 🎨 Discover artists 💜 Meet new people 🍂 Find something beautiful What will you discover? 👇 👉 Join us: www.facebook.com/groups/19344... #artfestival #originalart #creativecommunity #artist #event #show #party #festival #parties #fun

Image for the Awesome Autumn Art Festival featuring a landscape painting of Pixley Falls in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York. The composition celebrates autumn and the natural beauty of the region while announcing the opening of this online art community event.

The upper portion displays a peak of blue sky with fluffy, white clouds, suggesting clear autumn weather. From the top corners toward the center, intensely orange trees that have changed during the fall season frame both the left and right sides of the composition. A few green pine trees show through the orange foliage, providing color contrast and representing the evergreen species that persist through seasonal change.

The lower portion of the painting features a shallow river bed with sand and rocks, creating texture and natural elements typical of mountain waterfall landscapes. At the center of the composition is Pixley Falls itself, with water cascading down the rocks, creating the focal point that draws the viewer's eye.

In the immediate foreground at the bottom right corner, green leaves emerge from the edge of the frame, bringing the viewer closer to the natural landscape and creating a sense of being immersed in nature. This detail adds depth and invites the viewer into the scene.

In the bottom left corner is a photograph of Scout, the artist's dog, creating a personal connection between the artwork, the artist, and the viewer. This inclusion of the beloved pet adds a personal, intimate touch to the festival promotion, suggesting that this event is about community, personal connection, and the people and animals who matter most.

The festival, now open online, invites people to discover artists, meet new people, and find something beautiful. The combination of the striking landscape painting and the personal photograph conveys warmth, welcome, and the inclusive spirit of the art community event. The painting's autumn theme aligns perfectly with the festival's seasonal timing and name.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

🍁 When Autumn Danced Through the Vineyard 🍁 🍁 Autumn on Keuka Lake 🍁 If this place holds a special place in your heart, you'll find it here FRAMED: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4563... PRINT: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4563... DIGITAL DOWNLOAD: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4563... #Upstate

A landscape painting of Keuka Lake at sunset during autumn, viewed from Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery vineyard. The composition captures a specific moment in Upstate New York when the season has transformed the landscape into brilliant fall colors while day transitions to night.

The sky dominates the upper portion, rendered in soft pink tones as the sun sets. The sky features textured clouds that mirror the pink coloring, creating a warm, glowing atmosphere. This pink sky is perfectly reflected in the calm water of Keuka Lake below, doubling the visual impact of the sunset and creating a sense of peace.

Beyond the water on the far shore and at Bluff Point to the left, trees display their autumn foliage in scattered reds, oranges, and yellows against the glowing sky. The distant shoreline shows the natural patchwork of deciduous trees changing colors.

In the middle distance on the near side of the lake, the landscape transitions to the vineyard. Below the center-left are distinctive grapevines rendered with visible detail showing fruit clusters and leaves. To the right extends a band of red bushes running from center to the right edge, adding warm color to the foreground.

Below the red bushes and grapes runs a gravel road, helping establish the viewer's position in the vineyard. The closest quarter of the piece features more grapevines with detailed rendering of individual leaves and wooden support posts, creating depth and inviting the viewer into the scene.

The larger, more distinctly colorful trees of the forest on the near side descend the hillside toward the water, their autumn colors contributing to the rich palette of the composition. The overall effect is one of peaceful appreciation for the landscape—a moment of quiet observation from within a working vineyard as day ends and autumn continues its transformation of the Finger Lakes region.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

🍂 What does the world look like through the eyes of a leaf that has fallen to the ground? 🍂 Sometimes endings are not simply endings. 🍂 🎵 Listen and discover the story behind the song: open.spotify.com/track/6WTjEE... #BrinkerJames #IndieFolk #NewMusic #WoodenShield #Fallen #leaves #leaf #autumn

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

🌞 Have you ever wished you could hold onto a perfect moment and revisit it anytime? 🌞 Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty 🌞 Positano, Italy Sunset no. 627 🌞 For a relaxing moment, please visit: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/2346... or buy direct at: mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/buy-direct... #aceo #atc

Artist trading card (ATC/ACEO) depicting the Mediterranean Sea near Positano, Italy at sunset. The colored pencil and ink drawing captures a dramatic meeting of sky and water, with the horizon appearing almost to disappear as the two seem to merge into one luminous scene. Rich reds, warm oranges, golden yellows, and deep blues echo across both the sky and sea, creating a reflective, dreamlike atmosphere. On the upper right, steep mountains and rugged coastal cliffs rise sharply from the water. The cliffs are rendered in deep black with delicate light yellow highlights, creating a striking contrast against the glowing sunset and colorful sea. The overall scene evokes the warmth, tranquility, and romantic beauty of the Amalfi Coast at the end of the day.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

🌊🍁 Lake Ontario: A Beautiful Connection 🍁🌊 🌊🍁 On the Shore of Lake Ontario 🍁🌊 FRAMED: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4563... PRINT: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4563... DIGITAL DOWNLOAD: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/7550... #Canada #America #GreatLakes #seascape #Canadian #Truth #Epstein #blue

Landscape painting titled 'On the Shore of Lake Ontario' by Mike Kraus. The composition is divided between water and sky. The bottom third features Lake Ontario's shoreline with choppy, dynamic waves rendered in multiple shades of blue and green, showing the water's movement and texture as waves churn against the shore. The top two-thirds of the painting is dominated by large, billowing clouds in varying whites and grays against a sky.

This artwork celebrates Lake Ontario as a shared horizon between Canada and America. The painting conveys themes of natural beauty that transcends borders, unity across geography, and belonging without the loss of individual identity. The turbulent water represents the living, dynamic nature of this Great Lake that connects two nations and welcomes everyone—New Yorkers, Canadians, visitors, boaters, swimmers, dreamers, and anyone seeking a quiet place to breathe.

The work reflects on how certain places shape who we are and what we aspire to become. Lake Ontario represents slower moments, time outside, beautiful views at the end of ordinary days, places where family gathers and friendships deepen, and memories of who we were before life became busy. The painting suggests that Canadians and Americans are stronger together, united by shared appreciation for natural beauty and common landscape.

Created by lifelong artist Mike Kraus, this museum-quality artwork is available as a framed print, poster print, and digital download. The artist's philosophy centers on how color, movement, and curiosity can quietly change how a space and a day feel.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

❄⛄ What place always brings you back to memories of home? ⛄❄ ❄⛄ Winter On Skaneateles Lake ⛄❄ FRAMED: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4538... PRINT: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4538... DIGITAL DOWNLOAD: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4538... #Skaneateles #UpstateNY #FingerLakes #FLX #syracuse #ny

Winter landscape of Skaneateles Lake from Dickinson Conservation Area. Sky filled with pink and white clouds resembling cotton candy. Snow-covered hills on far shore with trees visible through snow. Calm lake surface reflects sky colors. Foreground shows silhouetted forest trees cropped by hillside, covered in snow with light blue shadows. Long narrow lake viewed at angle, smaller left side expanding toward right.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

🔥 What If One Night Around a Campfire Could Give You a Memory You’d Never Forget? 🔥 🔥 Have S'more 🔥 For a delicious treat, please visit: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/2063... or buy direct at: mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/buy-direct... #Brightscapes #MikeKrausArt #smore #camping #dessert #treats #fun

mikekrausart.etsy.com

Smore (PAINTING) 5x7 Mike Kraus - Pop Artworks Desserts Decor Food Campfires Kitchen Sweet Treats - Etsy

This Acrylic Paintings item by MikeKrausArt has 3403 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Rochester, NY. Listed on Aug 20, 2026

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

🌞 Sunny Skies in Minor Chords 🌞 Thoughtful songs for bright days and complicated hearts 🎧 open.spotify.com/playlist/62j... #indiefolk #newmusic #spotify

open.spotify.com

Sunny Skies in Minor Chords

Playlist · Mike Kraus Art · 30 items

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

🐯 In what ways can noticing beauty inspire us to care for what is rare and fragile? 🐯 🐯 King Louis Amur Leopard 🐯 Find more wild in your space, visit: FRAMED: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4555... PRINT: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4555... DIGITAL DOWNLOAD: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4555...

Horizontal painting of an Amur leopard portrait. The leopard occupies the left third of the composition and faces the viewer with a direct gaze. Its bright blue eyes stand out against golden-yellow fur covered with dark rosette spots. The animal's face and body gradually blend into a light green background rather than ending with a sharp outline.

The background is filled with colorful abstract and surreal botanical forms, including layered shapes, flowing lines, and plant-like outlines in multiple colors. These decorative patterns create a dreamlike environment that surrounds and partially merges with the leopard. The contrast between the realistically painted animal and the imaginative background gives the artwork a contemporary mixed-style appearance.

The subject is the Amur leopard, one of the world's rarest big cats and a critically endangered species. The painting emphasizes the animal's presence through its forward-facing pose and steady eye contact. The green, plant-inspired setting suggests a connection between the leopard and its habitat while the vibrant abstract elements add visual energy and movement.

This artwork combines wildlife portraiture with abstract design, featuring a realistic leopard emerging from a colorful, patterned landscape. The overall mood is calm, reflective, and contemplative, drawing attention to the beauty and vulnerability of this endangered animal.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

🐱 Tell me about the pet who became part of your family’s story? 🐱 🐱 Truffle 🐱 To turn your story into a one of a kind work of art, please visit: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/1865... or buy direct at: mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/buy-direct... #BrinkerJames #WoodenShield #WeveGotTheDay #music #cat

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

🍁 Awesome Autumn Art Festival 🍁 Discover artists. Make new friends. Celebrate creativity. Join us for 3 days of art, conversation, and community. Explore original artwork, meet creative people, and find something that inspires you. 👉 www.facebook.com/events/10713...

Vertical autumn landscape painting of Pixley Falls in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York. Brilliant orange and gold fall foliage fills most of the scene, surrounding a bright white waterfall cascading down the center. A small patch of vivid blue sky appears at the top above the treetops. The waterfall flows into a stream with warm light brown water in the foreground. A few green leaves peek into the lower right corner, contrasting with the fiery autumn colors. The composition draws the eye from the blue sky, down through the glowing forest and waterfall, to the river below. The mood is vibrant, peaceful, and celebratory of the beauty of fall.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

😎 What’s it like when a place you love becomes part of who you are? 😎 😎 São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal 😎 FRAMED: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/1702... PRINT: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/1716... DIGITAL DOWNLOAD: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/7561... #travel #vacation #holiday #trip #happy

Framed print, poster, and digital download of São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal featuring volcanic landscapes, rolling green hills, ocean views, and colorful hydrangea fields. Peaceful cows graze on hillsides beneath a gentle sky. The artwork captures the natural beauty and family heritage of this Portuguese island, conveying a sense of belonging, island calm, and connection to ancestral home.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

💜 In what ways do the places we dream about become the places where we truly belong? 💜 💜 Lavender In Provence 💜 To saunter through calm, please visit: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/6658... or buy direct at: mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/buy-direct... #France #French #Sunset #Europe #travel #vacation

Original painting titled Lavender in Provence, a 5x7 inch landscape artwork depicting rows of lavender in a field during sunset or sunrise. Large lavender rows occupy the foreground at the bottom left of the composition and recede toward the top right, creating depth. The immediate foreground is yellow grass. Behind the lavender is a purple field stretching into the distance. A dark green forest line forms the horizon. At the top right, a single tree breaks the skyline. The sky is a warm orange, with wispy white clouds scattered throughout. The painting uses warm sunset colors and impressionistic brushwork to capture the sensory experience of being in a Provence field, evoking feelings of peace, beauty, and belonging. The overall mood is serene and contemplative.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

What if happiness isn't something you find, but something you notice? "Man named Life tapped me. Told me be happy." A lyric from Brinker James' "We've Got the Day" that keeps returning to me. I created the cover artwork for their debut album Wooden Shield. Spotify open.spotify.com/track/70kOSr...

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

🎉 The Artist Trading Card (ACEO) Festival is NOW OPEN! 🎉 Discover amazing miniature art, meet talented artists, and maybe even find your next favorite creator. Come explore, say hello, and enjoy the community. We'd love to see you! 👉 www.facebook.com/groups/artis...

Colored pencil drawing of Reid State Park in Maine with a playful twist. The Atlantic Ocean stretches across the center, bordered by a rocky shoreline that forms a small cove. Pine trees rise along the right side, framing the coastline beneath a soft blue sky. Superimposed over the right third of the landscape is the chest up portrait of a brown terrier mixed breed dog. The dog faces slightly left rather than directly at the viewer, with an alert, thoughtful expression that blends naturally into the scene. The unexpected combination of portrait and landscape creates a whimsical, cinematic feeling, as if the dog is quietly watching over the coast or remembering a favorite place.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

💙❤️ Tell me about the place you would escape to if you could walk through this mysterious forest tonight? ❤️💙 💙❤️ Twilight Woods ❤️💙 To enjoy the magic of the forest, please visit: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/2328... or buy direct at: mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/buy-direct... #trees #nature #surreal

An abstract surreal painting titled “Twilight Woods” featuring a single tree standing in a dreamlike landscape. The upper third of the artwork is filled with blue and teal leaves, creating a cool, glowing canopy. Behind the tree is a vivid red sky that stretches across the middle of the composition, creating a dramatic contrast with the cooler colors above and below. The bottom third features rolling blue and teal hills that echo the colors of the leaves, creating a sense of harmony and depth. The tree’s trunk and branches are painted with metallic silver paint, giving them a reflective, otherworldly appearance as they reach upward into the colorful sky. The overall feeling is mysterious, peaceful, and surreal, like a magical forest seen at twilight.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Congratulations to Brinker James on announcing their debut album, Wooden Shield! I had the privilege of creating the cover artwork, and I'm excited for everyone to hear what Andrew and Ben have been working on. Congratulations on an incredible milestone!

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

🎴🃏 Love Artist Trading Cards / ACEOs? 🎴🃏 Join us for 3 days of miniature art, friendly conversations, creative fun, and amazing artists from around the world at the Artist Trading Card (ACEO) Festival! Join us at: www.facebook.com/events/13902...

Pile of colorful artist trading cards and ACEOs in various media including paintings, drawings, photographs, and collages. The cards feature diverse artistic styles and positive, uplifting subject matter, representing a global community of miniature artists.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

🤷‍♀️ What if one of history's most recognizable portraits reflected a broader vision of beauty? 🤷‍♀️ Arrangement In Purple, Pink, and Blue no. 444 (Reimaginging America) mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/6098... #ArtistTradingCard #ACEO #ATC ##ArtCard #ArtCards #JamesMcNeillWhistler #WhistlersMother

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

😎 In what ways can standing above Canandaigua Lake change the way you see your own life? 😎 😎 Canandaigua Lake From Bare Hill 😎 Bring the beauty of Canandaigua Lake into your home at: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/6421... or buy direct at: mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/buy-direct... #FingerLakes #FLX

An original landscape painting viewed from Bare Hill overlooking Canandaigua Lake in New York's Finger Lakes region. Golden yellow and fresh green grasses fill the foreground as the hillside slopes gently away from the viewer. A weathered gray rock rests in the lower right, while a lone pine tree stands slightly farther away to the left, overlooking the valley below. Beyond the hill, a dark green forest descends toward the shoreline, opening onto the calm blue waters of Canandaigua Lake. Rolling green hills rise on the opposite shore, creating layers of soft summer color that fade into the distance. Above, a bright blue sky occupies the upper third of the painting, filled with large white puffy clouds that cast subtle shadows across the landscape. The painting uses expressive brushwork and vibrant colors to evoke a peaceful summer afternoon. The viewpoint from Bare Hill, also known as Genundowa, has long held cultural significance for the Haudenosaunee people and offers a sweeping perspective that encourages quiet reflection and appreciation of the natural beauty of the Finger Lakes.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

💜 Tell me about a place that never really left your heart 💜 💜 Lavender In Provence 💜 If Provence has captured your heart, you can bring it home here: FRAMED mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4538... PRINT mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4538... DIGITAL DOWNLOAD mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4538...

A framed fine art print of a lavender landscape in Provence, France. The foreground is filled with neat rows of vibrant purple lavender stretching across gently rolling hills, with larger rows in the front becoming smaller as they recede into the distance, creating a strong sense of depth. Beyond the lavender is a bright golden yellow field, followed by soft green hills that lead to layers of blue mountains, with lighter blue peaks fading into the horizon. Above, a vivid blue summer sky is filled with large, puffy white clouds that add movement and contrast to the peaceful rural scene. The composition captures the beauty and tranquility of the famous lavender fields of Provence and is available as a framed print, poster, or instant digital download.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

🌵 What's it like to find beauty where most people never look? 🌵 🌵 Grocery Store Cactus 🌵 If this little cactus made you smile, you can bring it home here: FRAMED mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4537... PRINT mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4537... DIGITAL DOWNLOAD mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4537...

A realistic painting of a Moon Cactus slightly to the left against a textured white background. The cactus grows from dark black soil in a small terra cotta pot. Its bright red round top contrasts with the green cactus beneath it, which is covered in evenly spaced white spines. The pot sits near the bottom of the composition, leaving generous white space around the subject for a clean, minimalist look. The textured background adds subtle depth without distracting from the cactus. The artwork has a calm, contemporary feel with vivid color standing out against a simple white setting.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

👴 In what ways would you know that reality had decided to take the day off? 👴 👴 Bob no. 626 👴 To hang out with a reliable friend, please visit: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/2323... or buy direct at: mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/buy-direct... #ArtistTradingCard #ACEO #ATC #ArtistTradingCards #Kawaii

A hand-drawn artist trading card (ACE)) featuring an original cartoon character shown from the chest up in a portrait composition. The character is an older man with a warm, friendly smile and a relaxed expression that gives him an approachable, kind demeanor. He has male pattern baldness with short black hair remaining around the sides and back of his head. His face is softly rounded with expressive features that emphasize his gentle personality. He wears a bright red winter coat that stands out prominently against the cool-toned background. The coat frames his face and adds a cheerful splash of color to the composition. The background is a smooth gradient of blue, darkest immediately around the figure and gradually fading to lighter shades toward the outer edges, creating a subtle spotlight effect that draws attention to the character's face. The illustration is rendered with traditional pen, ink, and colored pencil on Bristol paper. Fine ink lines define the facial features, hair, and clothing, while layered colored pencil adds depth, texture, and soft shading throughout. The overall style is whimsical and comic-inspired rather than realistic, with clean linework and expressive, simplified forms that emphasize charm and personality. The character appears calm, friendly, and quietly amused, as though listening to an unusual story or sharing a gentle joke. The portrait has a welcoming, nostalgic feel and invites viewers to imagine the character's thoughtful, humorous nature. The small format of the artist trading card gives the illustration an intimate, collectible quality, encouraging close viewing to appreciate the subtle textures of the traditional media and the handcrafted details visible throughout the artwork.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

🍷 Tell me about the Napa Valley memory you'll never forget 🍷 🍷 The Last Light of Napa Valley 🍷 For serenity, please visit: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/2356... or buy direct at: mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/buy-direct... #BlackStallionWinery #CabernetSauvignon #Vineyard #SanFrancisco #California

An original landscape painting of Black Stallion Estate Winery in Napa Valley, California, at sunset. A wide brown dirt path begins at the bottom center of the painting and leads straight toward an ornate metal gate near the middle distance, drawing the eye into the scene. On the left, rows of vineyard grapevines, catching the warm golden-orange light of the setting sun. On the right, native plants, shrubs, grasses, and a mature tree frame the path with natural textures and shades of green. Beyond the gate, open fields extend toward low mountains in the near distance. A line of tall trees acts as a windbreak between the vineyards and surrounding land. The sky glows with warm yellows, oranges, pinks, with light clouds stretching across the sky, reflecting the last light of day across the landscape. The earthy tones of the Northern California soil contrast with the lush greens of the vineyard and surrounding vegetation, creating a peaceful, inviting atmosphere. The composition uses the central path as a strong leading line, guiding the viewer through the vineyard toward the gate and distant hills, emphasizing the quiet beauty and serenity of Napa Valley at sunset.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

🏬🏣🏢 What's It Like When Every Accent Tells an American Story? 🏢🏣🏬 🏬🏣🏢 On a New York City Street 🏢🏣🏬 For the spirit of Freedom, please visit: FRAMED: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4372... PRINT: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4372... DIGITAL DOWNLOAD: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/1459... #graffiti

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

🥃 In what ways do you celebrate Freedom and tell your own immigration history? 🥃 🥃 Extra Salty 🥃 For some refreshment, please visit FRAMED mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4386... PRINT mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4386... DIGITAL DOWNLOAD mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/1023... @printful.bsky.social

A sophisticated black framed poster displays a colorful painting of a classic margarita in a clear rocks glass. The transparent drink is a bright yellow green with several visible ice cubes that catch the light. A ring of coarse salt coats the rim of the glass, and a fresh green lime slice is perched on the right side. The background is a richly textured reddish orange, creating a warm contrast with the cool drink and making the colors appear especially vibrant. The composition is simple, bold, and centered, with the margarita as the sole subject. Accompanying text shares the story that the margarita is one of Mexico's most beloved contributions to world cuisine, celebrating its sweet, sour, and salty balance and its connection to tequila and Mexican culinary traditions. It also notes that during Prohibition many Americans illegally crossed into Mexico to enjoy and smuggle alcohol, highlighting a lesser known chapter of history before concluding that the margarita remains one of the most popular cocktails in the United States and continues to symbolize friendship, celebration, and a taste of Mexican hospitality.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

🌞 What If One Breath Could Turn You Into the Sun? 🌞 🌞 Moment She Became the Sun no. 625 🌞 To have that glowing feeling, please visit: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/2360... or buy direct at: mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/buy-direct... #ACEO #ArtistTradingCard #ATC #ArtCard #portrait #joy #empowerment

A portrait painting of an African American woman shown from the shoulders up against a radiant abstract background. Her head is tilted slightly upward and to the right, her eyes are bright and wide, and she wears a broad, genuine smile that conveys joy and peaceful contentment. Warm golden light appears to radiate outward from her face and shoulders, transitioning from bright yellow near the center to rich oranges, reds, and deep maroon around the edges of the composition. Soft, expressive lines blend the glowing colors together, creating the impression that light is emanating from within her rather than shining onto her. Her dark, curly hair frames her face, and the warm tones highlight her features without sharp outlines. The simple background contains no objects or scenery, allowing the luminous color and her joyful expression to become the focus of the painting. The overall feeling is uplifting, hopeful, and full of warmth, suggesting a quiet moment of inner peace, confidence, and renewal.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

🍁 Tell me about a place in nature that still feels safe whenever life becomes overwhelming. 🍁 🍁 Autumn Birch 🍁 For a peaceful moment, please visit mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/5392... buy direct at: mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/buy-direct... #Birch #Apsen #PeacefulArt #Autumn #Fall #Landscape #Nature

An abstracted painting viewed from the base of a birch tree looking upward into its canopy during autumn. The white trunk, marked with dark natural birch patterns, rises from the bottom center of the image and branches outward toward the edges. The branches and leaves create a gentle swirling motion, rotating clockwise around the center of the composition. Most of the leaves are vibrant shades of orange, with touches of soft pink and golden yellow woven throughout, suggesting the changing colors of fall. Between the branches, a bright blue sky shows through, accented by delicate wisps of white clouds. Flowing brushstrokes and curved forms emphasize movement, giving the impression that the leaves are dancing in a light breeze while the viewer gazes upward from beneath the tree. The overall mood is peaceful, uplifting, and immersive, celebrating the beauty and energy of an autumn day.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

🩷🦉💚 What's it like to lock eyes with a wild creature and feel as though it recognizes something in you? 🩷🦉💚 🩷🦉💚 Pink and Green Chevron Owl 🩷🦉💚 FRAMED: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4526... PRINT: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/4526... DIGITAL DOWNLOAD: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/2677... #bird

A portrait of a squawking great horned owl facing slightly to the left. The owl has intense, bright yellow eyes and an open beak as if calling out. Its left wing extends forward and slightly outward toward the viewer, creating a sense of movement and closeness. The owl's mottled brown, tan, and cream feathers contrast sharply with the background, which consists of broad, loosely rendered chevrons in vivid pink and bright green. The bold colors and direct gaze give the image an energetic, striking, and slightly magical feel.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

🩷 I Was Interviewed by Bold Journey About Art, Resilience, and Figuring Life Out as I Go 🩷 Read here: boldjourney.com/meet-mike-kr... #BoldJourney #MikeKrausArt #TheWayToBeauty #Art #ArtistInterview #CreativeJourney #ContemporaryArt #ArtistLife #Resilience #Creativity #Inspiration #Painting

Screenshot of an online interview titled "Meet Mike Kraus" published by Bold Journey Magazine on June 23, 2026. The article features several photos of artist Mike Kraus, including a portrait of him seated in his studio surrounded by colorful landscape paintings, a gallery photo of him standing with artwork behind him, and personal snapshots with family and childhood drawings. In the interview, Mike discusses how art has helped him process difficult experiences since childhood, including repeatedly drawing the Challenger space shuttle disaster as a way to understand it. He describes art as a form of therapy, reflection, and problem-solving. He also talks about resilience, the importance of supportive relationships, meditation, and creating beauty and moments of contemplation through his paintings. The article highlights his philosophy that beauty is essential to a meaningful life and that everyone is still learning and figuring things out as they go.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

🧠 June is Dementia Awareness Month 🧠 More than 55 million people live with dementia worldwide. It affects memory, language, personality, and behavior. 🧠 Having Dementia 🧠 please visit: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/6500... or mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/buy-direct...

A miniature ACEO artist trading card portrait rendered in ink and colord pencils. The subject is an elderly man shown with drooping aged skin vacant eyes, thin hair, unusual mouth, and lined with deep creases across the forehead, around the eyes, and along the jaw. His expression is vacant and unfocused, with heavy-lidded eyes that suggest fatigue or disconnection. His hair is sparse and disheveled, sitting unevenly atop his head in a way that appears unstable and wind-affected.
The background is a deep, saturated red that radiates outward from behind the subject's head, gradually softening and lightening toward the edges of the card, creating an effect that feels simultaneously like a spotlight and a warning. The contrast between the vivid red and the pallor of the subject's skin is stark and unsettling.
The overall composition evokes themes of cognitive vulnerability and the physical and emotional toll of neurological decline. The unflinching detail of the face invites the viewer to look past surface appearances and consider what lies beneath, the confusion, the fragility, and the humanity that persists even as the mind struggles to hold itself together.
Created in observance of Dementia Awareness Month. Part of the ongoing series "Having Dementia," exploring the visible and invisible signs of cognitive decline with honesty and compassion.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

🩷 What experiences and beliefs cause you to see it this way? 🩷 🩷 Twilight Woods 🩷 To enjoy the magic of the forest, please visit: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/2575... or buy direct at: mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/buy-direct... #ForestPainting #Tree #Trees #Forest #Woods #EnchantedForest #Fantasy

An 8" x 10" (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm) acrylic landscape painting of a dreamlike twilight forest. The bottom third of the composition features rolling pink hills with touches of red and blue highlights. In the center, a valley contains a narrow path that recedes into the distance and disappears over a hill, drawing the eye deeper into the scene. Black tree trunks rise from the landscape and are accented with metallic silver highlights that catch the light. The top third of the painting is filled with dense pink foliage, also highlighted with red and blue tones. Behind the trees, a blue sky occupies the middle portion of the painting and gradually fades to white toward the side edges. The combination of pink, blue, black, and metallic silver creates a calming, mysterious, and dreamlike woodland atmosphere.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

💜 What's it like to remember a place so vividly it feels like you're there again? 💜 💜 Fields of Lavender 💜 For a relaxing moment, please visit: FRAMED mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/1716... PRINT mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/1702... DIGITAL DOWNLOAD mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/7680... #provence

Serene landscape painting featuring rows of purple lavender in the foreground, a golden field and green forest beyond, and hazy blue mountains under a bright blue sky with soft white clouds. The colors create a calming, summery feeling.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

🐦 Are You Starting Another Week Already Feeling Behind? 🐦 🐦 American Robin no. 623 🐦 For an early riser, please visit: mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/2100... or buy direct at: mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/buy-direct... #bird #ArtistTradingCard #ACEO #ATC #ArtCard #summer #gift #green #animal #avian

Colored-pencil drawing of an American Robin against a soft green background. The bird faces right, showing its rusty orange breast, gray back, and yellow beak. Fine pencil strokes create detailed feather textures, with subtle shading around the eye and wings. The smooth green backdrop provides contrast that makes the robin stand out. The overall effect is naturalistic and calm, focusing attention on the bird’s posture, coloring, and feather detail.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

🌊 How do you find calm before the storm? 🌊 🌊 When the Gales of November Come Early On Lake Superior 🌊 To weather the storm ahead, please visit mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/5179... or buy direct at mikekraus.blogspot.com/p/buy-direct... #LakeSuperior #BadRiver #Mashkiiziibii #Chippewa #indigenous

A landscape painting of Lake Superior viewed from the sandy shoreline of the Bad River Reservation in Wisconsin. The scene looks northwest along the curving beach as it stretches into the distance. Gentle waves roll toward shore and break in white foam along the water's edge. The lake is painted in cool blues and greens, reflecting the changing weather. Farther out into the water, dark storm clouds gather over the horizon, creating a dramatic contrast with the lighter sky and water in the foreground. The approaching storm suggests increasing wind and rougher conditions ahead, while the nearby waves remain relatively calm. The composition emphasizes the vast scale of Lake Superior, the sweep of the shoreline, and the quiet tension between the peaceful beach and the advancing gale. Landscape and seascape painting by Mike Kraus.

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Mike Kraus Art @mikekraus.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

🌻 Is This When You Know Your Finger Lakes Vacation Has Officially Started? 🌻 🌻 Liz's Sunflower On Canandaigua Lake 🌻 For a relaxing moment, please visit: FRAMED mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/1786... PRINT mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/1786... DIGITAL DOWNLOAD mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/7591...

Landscape painting of a summer day at Canandaigua Lake in New York's Finger Lakes region. Yellow and orange sunflowers fill the foreground, their bright colors drawing the eye across the field toward a red barn set back on the left side of the scene. A line of green trees creates a natural boundary between the field and the middle ground. The eye then wanders through openings in the trees to the calm blue waters of Canandaigua Lake, with rolling hills stretching beyond. Above, a bright blue sky is dotted with soft white clouds. The composition invites the viewer to travel from the flowers to the barn and then out across the open lake view. The overall feeling is joyful, peaceful, and reminiscent of a relaxing summer vacation by the water.

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