Mel - The Penny Drops
@thepennydropsart.bsky.social
🎨 NZ Artist - oil painter of bokeh
🌏 Award-winning prints & originals ➡️ worldwide
📲 https://www.thepennydropsart.co.nz
🌏 Award-winning prints & originals ➡️ worldwide
📲 https://www.thepennydropsart.co.nz
I know my art is moving, but the real reason for the earth moving under my feet today was The Studio’s first earthquake 🫨
March 25, 2025 at 9:16 AM
I know my art is moving, but the real reason for the earth moving under my feet today was The Studio’s first earthquake 🫨
Bokeh art reminds you that softness isn’t about losing focus, but about gaining perspective. (When you stop fixating on tiny flaws and pesky details, the bigger picture - full of light & beauty - comes into view 🤩.)
January 24, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Bokeh art reminds you that softness isn’t about losing focus, but about gaining perspective. (When you stop fixating on tiny flaws and pesky details, the bigger picture - full of light & beauty - comes into view 🤩.)
Does the Great New Zealand Summer Shut Down end tonight? I’ve just been in Chch for a week: there were 4 galleries I couldn’t visit due to their extended summer break. Mind you, I was also on an extended summer break, so my own ability to deliver has been deferred: home now & shipping art tomorrow 🙌🏼
January 12, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Does the Great New Zealand Summer Shut Down end tonight? I’ve just been in Chch for a week: there were 4 galleries I couldn’t visit due to their extended summer break. Mind you, I was also on an extended summer break, so my own ability to deliver has been deferred: home now & shipping art tomorrow 🙌🏼
Every time I’ve seen an adult friend or acquaintance who’s got braces for the first time, my first though is “I never noticed they had ‘bad’ teeth”.
It’s given me great comfort: I’m sure that of the myriad of negative thoughts we have about our own bodies, nobody else has ever noticed.
It’s given me great comfort: I’m sure that of the myriad of negative thoughts we have about our own bodies, nobody else has ever noticed.
December 16, 2024 at 3:13 AM
Every time I’ve seen an adult friend or acquaintance who’s got braces for the first time, my first though is “I never noticed they had ‘bad’ teeth”.
It’s given me great comfort: I’m sure that of the myriad of negative thoughts we have about our own bodies, nobody else has ever noticed.
It’s given me great comfort: I’m sure that of the myriad of negative thoughts we have about our own bodies, nobody else has ever noticed.
“I don’t believe in the ‘tortured artist’ stereotype - how can we be tormented when our eyes are so finely attuned to the beauty all around us?”
~ Mel, the happiest #artist in the world ☺️
~ Mel, the happiest #artist in the world ☺️
December 14, 2024 at 5:33 AM
“I don’t believe in the ‘tortured artist’ stereotype - how can we be tormented when our eyes are so finely attuned to the beauty all around us?”
~ Mel, the happiest #artist in the world ☺️
~ Mel, the happiest #artist in the world ☺️
Happy painting day - school’s out UNTIL FEBRUARY 😮 so I’ve enlisted my 2 older daughters to take turns looking after their lil brother 2 hours a day… amazing what an under-the-pump-artist can get done when the clock’s ticking ⏳
Painting: Dunedin, NZ 🇳🇿
Painting: Dunedin, NZ 🇳🇿
December 13, 2024 at 3:47 AM
Happy painting day - school’s out UNTIL FEBRUARY 😮 so I’ve enlisted my 2 older daughters to take turns looking after their lil brother 2 hours a day… amazing what an under-the-pump-artist can get done when the clock’s ticking ⏳
Painting: Dunedin, NZ 🇳🇿
Painting: Dunedin, NZ 🇳🇿
This #painting was the most popular at yesterday’s workshop - sparkling lights on New Zealand’s #laketeanau - framed in one of my custom round frames 👌🏼🤩💙
December 9, 2024 at 4:14 AM
This #painting was the most popular at yesterday’s workshop - sparkling lights on New Zealand’s #laketeanau - framed in one of my custom round frames 👌🏼🤩💙
Studio looking festive in preparation for its first #Christmas workshop
A lovely group of friends came along for some Christmas decoration making and refreshments.
A lovely group of friends came along for some Christmas decoration making and refreshments.
December 9, 2024 at 1:51 AM
Studio looking festive in preparation for its first #Christmas workshop
A lovely group of friends came along for some Christmas decoration making and refreshments.
A lovely group of friends came along for some Christmas decoration making and refreshments.
#ArtStudio peonies on the edge of blooming right out 💕
Being a #bokeh artist is a curious mix of noticing life’s beautiful details - and then blurring away the minutiae to leave the beauty and the light on the canvas 🤩🤪
Being a #bokeh artist is a curious mix of noticing life’s beautiful details - and then blurring away the minutiae to leave the beauty and the light on the canvas 🤩🤪
December 3, 2024 at 8:54 AM
#ArtStudio peonies on the edge of blooming right out 💕
Being a #bokeh artist is a curious mix of noticing life’s beautiful details - and then blurring away the minutiae to leave the beauty and the light on the canvas 🤩🤪
Being a #bokeh artist is a curious mix of noticing life’s beautiful details - and then blurring away the minutiae to leave the beauty and the light on the canvas 🤩🤪
Morning light in The Studio makes waking up early worth it 🤩
November 30, 2024 at 5:40 PM
Morning light in The Studio makes waking up early worth it 🤩
I’m going to completely contradict myself here 🤭, but *even* as an artist who preaches #softness AND has experienced the absolute joy of selling SIX originals this week 🥰 - the feeling of slipping between the crisp sheets of a freshly-made bed is, quite simply, incomparable. 👌🏼🤗
November 30, 2024 at 9:18 AM
I’m going to completely contradict myself here 🤭, but *even* as an artist who preaches #softness AND has experienced the absolute joy of selling SIX originals this week 🥰 - the feeling of slipping between the crisp sheets of a freshly-made bed is, quite simply, incomparable. 👌🏼🤗
Interrupting the usual chronicles of softness (because an artist has to make a living too 💁🏻♀️) to let you know I’m NOT doing Black Friday - no discounts out of respect for my previous collectors, but by way of ‘giving thanks’ get these 3 Bokeh prints free…
November 26, 2024 at 8:19 AM
Interrupting the usual chronicles of softness (because an artist has to make a living too 💁🏻♀️) to let you know I’m NOT doing Black Friday - no discounts out of respect for my previous collectors, but by way of ‘giving thanks’ get these 3 Bokeh prints free…
The algorithm here has figured out that #citylights are my jam - all your pics of the big northern hemisphere #cities with so much #Bokeh potential giving me some serious #wanderlust… meanwhile, this is my #studio 🐄☘️🌱💙
November 25, 2024 at 6:16 PM
The algorithm here has figured out that #citylights are my jam - all your pics of the big northern hemisphere #cities with so much #Bokeh potential giving me some serious #wanderlust… meanwhile, this is my #studio 🐄☘️🌱💙
Making her Bluesky debut - doing some #grounding with me at lunchtime. Beaut day for it 🙌🏼☀️
#dogsofbluesky
#dogsofbluesky
November 25, 2024 at 4:03 AM
Making her Bluesky debut - doing some #grounding with me at lunchtime. Beaut day for it 🙌🏼☀️
#dogsofbluesky
#dogsofbluesky
Favourite season alert! 🍂
What’s yours??
What’s yours??
This week’s contributions to our #Autumn #Artchallenge came from New Zealand, Denmark and the UK.
Thanks to @thepennydropsart.bsky.social
@artofdom.com and
@guggern who can all also be found on Instagram. We appreciate you taking the time to contribute & allowing us to share your creations.
Thanks to @thepennydropsart.bsky.social
@artofdom.com and
@guggern who can all also be found on Instagram. We appreciate you taking the time to contribute & allowing us to share your creations.
November 25, 2024 at 12:10 AM
Favourite season alert! 🍂
What’s yours??
What’s yours??
One of my kids had been a little #nervous about getting on the school bus - especially when his sibling was not with him. He took to keeping a #connection with me by waving non-stop until the bus was out of sight and eventually that morphed into rock:paper:scissors through the window - so cute 🫠… ⬇️
November 24, 2024 at 9:07 PM
One of my kids had been a little #nervous about getting on the school bus - especially when his sibling was not with him. He took to keeping a #connection with me by waving non-stop until the bus was out of sight and eventually that morphed into rock:paper:scissors through the window - so cute 🫠… ⬇️
Interesting discussion on #peoplepleasing as part of Epidode 270… you’d think applying The Philosophy of Softness makes you a push over - too eager to please. But in affording yourself the same softness, you put your own needs on an equal footing to the other person’s.
November 23, 2024 at 9:21 PM
Interesting discussion on #peoplepleasing as part of Epidode 270… you’d think applying The Philosophy of Softness makes you a push over - too eager to please. But in affording yourself the same softness, you put your own needs on an equal footing to the other person’s.
Fab afternoon - barefoot - in the garden catching up on my #grounding experiment.
Not going to try and pass these peonies off as #homegrown though - we have a #flowerfarm in our school community who generously donate these peonies as a school fundraiser 🙌🏼
Fresh flowers for my Studio this week!
Not going to try and pass these peonies off as #homegrown though - we have a #flowerfarm in our school community who generously donate these peonies as a school fundraiser 🙌🏼
Fresh flowers for my Studio this week!
November 23, 2024 at 8:16 AM
Fab afternoon - barefoot - in the garden catching up on my #grounding experiment.
Not going to try and pass these peonies off as #homegrown though - we have a #flowerfarm in our school community who generously donate these peonies as a school fundraiser 🙌🏼
Fresh flowers for my Studio this week!
Not going to try and pass these peonies off as #homegrown though - we have a #flowerfarm in our school community who generously donate these peonies as a school fundraiser 🙌🏼
Fresh flowers for my Studio this week!
Day 3 (and 4 🫣) of my #grounding experiment were non existent. But a philosophy of softness assigns curiousity instead of ‘failure’… what can I do differently to ensure more compliance with the experiment, what am I learning so far, does it matter that I missed days??
November 23, 2024 at 12:22 AM
Day 3 (and 4 🫣) of my #grounding experiment were non existent. But a philosophy of softness assigns curiousity instead of ‘failure’… what can I do differently to ensure more compliance with the experiment, what am I learning so far, does it matter that I missed days??
Another successful day not drinking the paint water in the art studio 👏🏽.
Some say I can’t be a proper artist.
Others will know I’m an oil painter.
Some say I can’t be a proper artist.
Others will know I’m an oil painter.
November 22, 2024 at 4:59 AM
Another successful day not drinking the paint water in the art studio 👏🏽.
Some say I can’t be a proper artist.
Others will know I’m an oil painter.
Some say I can’t be a proper artist.
Others will know I’m an oil painter.
Not all heroes wear capes - BUT this one does!
Meet #hackthehang - saving walls from unnecessary holes one hook at a time 🛠️
www.thepennydropsart.co.nz/products/art...
Meet #hackthehang - saving walls from unnecessary holes one hook at a time 🛠️
www.thepennydropsart.co.nz/products/art...
November 21, 2024 at 6:08 AM
Not all heroes wear capes - BUT this one does!
Meet #hackthehang - saving walls from unnecessary holes one hook at a time 🛠️
www.thepennydropsart.co.nz/products/art...
Meet #hackthehang - saving walls from unnecessary holes one hook at a time 🛠️
www.thepennydropsart.co.nz/products/art...
Day 2 of the #grounding experiment opened my eyes 👀… noticing the little details: from how plush the grass felt beneath my feet, to the wee eggs in our bird box and these previously-unseen delicate purple flowers.
Also no stubbed toes and no spacey feeling today so that’s a bonus!
BUT: ⤵️
Also no stubbed toes and no spacey feeling today so that’s a bonus!
BUT: ⤵️
November 20, 2024 at 8:21 PM
Day 2 of the #grounding experiment opened my eyes 👀… noticing the little details: from how plush the grass felt beneath my feet, to the wee eggs in our bird box and these previously-unseen delicate purple flowers.
Also no stubbed toes and no spacey feeling today so that’s a bonus!
BUT: ⤵️
Also no stubbed toes and no spacey feeling today so that’s a bonus!
BUT: ⤵️
Wellington NZ - so called ‘the world’s coolest little capital’ - can’t wait to get paint on the brush and get this on canvas 🤩
November 19, 2024 at 11:13 PM
Wellington NZ - so called ‘the world’s coolest little capital’ - can’t wait to get paint on the brush and get this on canvas 🤩
Results from Day 1 of my #grounding experiment
1) One stubbed toe 🩹
2) Two bunches of flowers picked for The Studio 💐
3) Veggie garden watered 💦
4) Weeds pulled 🌿
5) Spent the rest of the morning feeling spacey 🤪
Question: how to spend the time without feeling like it still needs to be productive?
1) One stubbed toe 🩹
2) Two bunches of flowers picked for The Studio 💐
3) Veggie garden watered 💦
4) Weeds pulled 🌿
5) Spent the rest of the morning feeling spacey 🤪
Question: how to spend the time without feeling like it still needs to be productive?
November 19, 2024 at 7:43 PM
Results from Day 1 of my #grounding experiment
1) One stubbed toe 🩹
2) Two bunches of flowers picked for The Studio 💐
3) Veggie garden watered 💦
4) Weeds pulled 🌿
5) Spent the rest of the morning feeling spacey 🤪
Question: how to spend the time without feeling like it still needs to be productive?
1) One stubbed toe 🩹
2) Two bunches of flowers picked for The Studio 💐
3) Veggie garden watered 💦
4) Weeds pulled 🌿
5) Spent the rest of the morning feeling spacey 🤪
Question: how to spend the time without feeling like it still needs to be productive?