Melissa Halley
@melissahalleyart.bsky.social
🎨 Fine Art - Illustration - Nature
🍃 Inspired by nature, its beauty, its fragility and finality
🍎 Vegan
www.melissahalley.nl
🍃 Inspired by nature, its beauty, its fragility and finality
🍎 Vegan
www.melissahalley.nl
Today, November 30th is 'Remembrance Day for Lost Species'.
For the past months I've been working on a series that depict the 15 butterfly species lost to the Netherlands over the past 80 years 🦋
These are the first 12 🦋
www.lostspeciesday.org
#lostspeciesday #watercolour #butterfly #melissahalley
For the past months I've been working on a series that depict the 15 butterfly species lost to the Netherlands over the past 80 years 🦋
These are the first 12 🦋
www.lostspeciesday.org
#lostspeciesday #watercolour #butterfly #melissahalley
November 30, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Today, November 30th is 'Remembrance Day for Lost Species'.
For the past months I've been working on a series that depict the 15 butterfly species lost to the Netherlands over the past 80 years 🦋
These are the first 12 🦋
www.lostspeciesday.org
#lostspeciesday #watercolour #butterfly #melissahalley
For the past months I've been working on a series that depict the 15 butterfly species lost to the Netherlands over the past 80 years 🦋
These are the first 12 🦋
www.lostspeciesday.org
#lostspeciesday #watercolour #butterfly #melissahalley
The 9th watercolour in this series is the Red Underwing Skipper (Dutch: Kalkgraslanddikkopje).
Hint about the series theme: 1976.
Painted true size in a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
#watercolour #butterfly #redunderwingskipper #spialiasertorius #kalkgraslanddikkopje #lookforbeauty #melissahalley
Hint about the series theme: 1976.
Painted true size in a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
#watercolour #butterfly #redunderwingskipper #spialiasertorius #kalkgraslanddikkopje #lookforbeauty #melissahalley
November 22, 2025 at 5:23 PM
The 9th watercolour in this series is the Red Underwing Skipper (Dutch: Kalkgraslanddikkopje).
Hint about the series theme: 1976.
Painted true size in a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
#watercolour #butterfly #redunderwingskipper #spialiasertorius #kalkgraslanddikkopje #lookforbeauty #melissahalley
Hint about the series theme: 1976.
Painted true size in a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
#watercolour #butterfly #redunderwingskipper #spialiasertorius #kalkgraslanddikkopje #lookforbeauty #melissahalley
Working on butterfly nr. 13 of 15 🦋
It has a wingspan of only 1,8 cm and all butterflies in this series are painted true size 🙀
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#watercolour #butterfly #smallblue #cupidominimus #dwergblauwtje #melissahalley
It has a wingspan of only 1,8 cm and all butterflies in this series are painted true size 🙀
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#watercolour #butterfly #smallblue #cupidominimus #dwergblauwtje #melissahalley
November 20, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Working on butterfly nr. 13 of 15 🦋
It has a wingspan of only 1,8 cm and all butterflies in this series are painted true size 🙀
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#watercolour #butterfly #smallblue #cupidominimus #dwergblauwtje #melissahalley
It has a wingspan of only 1,8 cm and all butterflies in this series are painted true size 🙀
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#watercolour #butterfly #smallblue #cupidominimus #dwergblauwtje #melissahalley
We're halfway November and these are still (kinda) blooming on my balcony: Cornflower (top), Blue bonnet (right), Cranesbill (left), Orange coneflower (middle) and some Chamomille (bottom) 🌼
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#autumn #savethepollinators #organicplants #lookforbeauty #inspiredbynature #melissahalley
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#autumn #savethepollinators #organicplants #lookforbeauty #inspiredbynature #melissahalley
November 16, 2025 at 3:32 PM
We're halfway November and these are still (kinda) blooming on my balcony: Cornflower (top), Blue bonnet (right), Cranesbill (left), Orange coneflower (middle) and some Chamomille (bottom) 🌼
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#autumn #savethepollinators #organicplants #lookforbeauty #inspiredbynature #melissahalley
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#autumn #savethepollinators #organicplants #lookforbeauty #inspiredbynature #melissahalley
The 8th watercolour in this series is the Black-veined White, Aporia Crataegi or in Dutch: Groot geaderd witje 🦋
Hint about the series theme: 1975 🦋
Painted true size in a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
#watercolour #butterfly #blackveinedwhite #aporiacrataegi #grootgeaderdwitje #melissahalley
Hint about the series theme: 1975 🦋
Painted true size in a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
#watercolour #butterfly #blackveinedwhite #aporiacrataegi #grootgeaderdwitje #melissahalley
November 10, 2025 at 1:50 PM
The 8th watercolour in this series is the Black-veined White, Aporia Crataegi or in Dutch: Groot geaderd witje 🦋
Hint about the series theme: 1975 🦋
Painted true size in a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
#watercolour #butterfly #blackveinedwhite #aporiacrataegi #grootgeaderdwitje #melissahalley
Hint about the series theme: 1975 🦋
Painted true size in a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
#watercolour #butterfly #blackveinedwhite #aporiacrataegi #grootgeaderdwitje #melissahalley
Happy Halloween/ Samhain everyone!!
🎃🦉🧙🏻♀️🔮🕷🍷🧛🏻♀️🦇🔪🧟♀️🐈⬛🌕🐺🍁
🎃🦉🧙🏻♀️🔮🕷🍷🧛🏻♀️🦇🔪🧟♀️🐈⬛🌕🐺🍁
October 31, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Happy Halloween/ Samhain everyone!!
🎃🦉🧙🏻♀️🔮🕷🍷🧛🏻♀️🦇🔪🧟♀️🐈⬛🌕🐺🍁
🎃🦉🧙🏻♀️🔮🕷🍷🧛🏻♀️🦇🔪🧟♀️🐈⬛🌕🐺🍁
Working on #10 of my watercolour series that depict the 15 butterfly species lost to the Netherlands over the past 80 years 🦋
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#watercolour #butterfly #savetheinsects #savethepollinators #organicgardening #nopesticides #noinsecticides #lookforbeauty #inspiredbynature #protectnature #melissahalley
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#watercolour #butterfly #savetheinsects #savethepollinators #organicgardening #nopesticides #noinsecticides #lookforbeauty #inspiredbynature #protectnature #melissahalley
October 27, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Working on #10 of my watercolour series that depict the 15 butterfly species lost to the Netherlands over the past 80 years 🦋
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#watercolour #butterfly #savetheinsects #savethepollinators #organicgardening #nopesticides #noinsecticides #lookforbeauty #inspiredbynature #protectnature #melissahalley
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#watercolour #butterfly #savetheinsects #savethepollinators #organicgardening #nopesticides #noinsecticides #lookforbeauty #inspiredbynature #protectnature #melissahalley
Last month I found a small part of a wasp's nest. Just a very thin papery 'skin'. Very delicate and beautiful 🐝
#summer #wasp #waspnest #watercolor #sketchbook #foundtreasures #inspirationalwalk #forest #forestwalk #inspiredbynature #nature #protectnature #melissahalley
#summer #wasp #waspnest #watercolor #sketchbook #foundtreasures #inspirationalwalk #forest #forestwalk #inspiredbynature #nature #protectnature #melissahalley
September 29, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Last month I found a small part of a wasp's nest. Just a very thin papery 'skin'. Very delicate and beautiful 🐝
#summer #wasp #waspnest #watercolor #sketchbook #foundtreasures #inspirationalwalk #forest #forestwalk #inspiredbynature #nature #protectnature #melissahalley
#summer #wasp #waspnest #watercolor #sketchbook #foundtreasures #inspirationalwalk #forest #forestwalk #inspiredbynature #nature #protectnature #melissahalley
The 7th watercolour in this series is the Pearl-bordered Fritillary 🦋
In Dutch called 'Zilvervlek', which translates to silver spot.
Hint about the series theme: 1969 🦋
Painted true size in a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
#watercolour #pearlborderedfritillary
#boloriaeuphrosyne #zilvervlek #melissahalley
In Dutch called 'Zilvervlek', which translates to silver spot.
Hint about the series theme: 1969 🦋
Painted true size in a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
#watercolour #pearlborderedfritillary
#boloriaeuphrosyne #zilvervlek #melissahalley
September 25, 2025 at 1:52 PM
The 7th watercolour in this series is the Pearl-bordered Fritillary 🦋
In Dutch called 'Zilvervlek', which translates to silver spot.
Hint about the series theme: 1969 🦋
Painted true size in a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
#watercolour #pearlborderedfritillary
#boloriaeuphrosyne #zilvervlek #melissahalley
In Dutch called 'Zilvervlek', which translates to silver spot.
Hint about the series theme: 1969 🦋
Painted true size in a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
#watercolour #pearlborderedfritillary
#boloriaeuphrosyne #zilvervlek #melissahalley
The season is changing, which also means the bumblebee season is drawing to an end 🍁
Last week I noticed some Common Carder bee queens and males on my balcony, probably from the nest beneath my ivy 💗🎉
I'm going to miss "my" bumbles 💔🐝 🐝
#summer #autumn #bumblebee #lookforbeauty #melissahalley
Last week I noticed some Common Carder bee queens and males on my balcony, probably from the nest beneath my ivy 💗🎉
I'm going to miss "my" bumbles 💔🐝 🐝
#summer #autumn #bumblebee #lookforbeauty #melissahalley
September 15, 2025 at 5:37 PM
The season is changing, which also means the bumblebee season is drawing to an end 🍁
Last week I noticed some Common Carder bee queens and males on my balcony, probably from the nest beneath my ivy 💗🎉
I'm going to miss "my" bumbles 💔🐝 🐝
#summer #autumn #bumblebee #lookforbeauty #melissahalley
Last week I noticed some Common Carder bee queens and males on my balcony, probably from the nest beneath my ivy 💗🎉
I'm going to miss "my" bumbles 💔🐝 🐝
#summer #autumn #bumblebee #lookforbeauty #melissahalley
The 6th watercolour in this series is the Mourning Cloak (North America) or Camberwell Beauty (Britain).
In Dutch it's called 'Rouwmantel', which translates to mourning cloak.
#watercolour #butterfly #mourningcloak #camberwellbeauty
#nymphalisantiopa #rouwmantel #melissahalley
In Dutch it's called 'Rouwmantel', which translates to mourning cloak.
#watercolour #butterfly #mourningcloak #camberwellbeauty
#nymphalisantiopa #rouwmantel #melissahalley
September 11, 2025 at 3:58 PM
The 6th watercolour in this series is the Mourning Cloak (North America) or Camberwell Beauty (Britain).
In Dutch it's called 'Rouwmantel', which translates to mourning cloak.
#watercolour #butterfly #mourningcloak #camberwellbeauty
#nymphalisantiopa #rouwmantel #melissahalley
In Dutch it's called 'Rouwmantel', which translates to mourning cloak.
#watercolour #butterfly #mourningcloak #camberwellbeauty
#nymphalisantiopa #rouwmantel #melissahalley
I have at least 5 of these on my balcony. Weaving webs from pot to pot, pot to balcony fence, clothes line to ceiling and across the walking area. The latter I always try to move which sometimes works, sometimes not so much 🕷🕸
#araneusdiadematus #kruisspin #europeangardenspider #crossorbweaver
#araneusdiadematus #kruisspin #europeangardenspider #crossorbweaver
September 7, 2025 at 4:48 PM
I have at least 5 of these on my balcony. Weaving webs from pot to pot, pot to balcony fence, clothes line to ceiling and across the walking area. The latter I always try to move which sometimes works, sometimes not so much 🕷🕸
#araneusdiadematus #kruisspin #europeangardenspider #crossorbweaver
#araneusdiadematus #kruisspin #europeangardenspider #crossorbweaver
The 5th watercolour in this series is the Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Purperstreepparelmoervlinder).
Hint about the series theme: 1962 🦋
Painted true size on a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
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#watercolour #butterfly #lessermarbledfritillary #brenthisino #savetheinsects #melissahalley
Hint about the series theme: 1962 🦋
Painted true size on a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
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#watercolour #butterfly #lessermarbledfritillary #brenthisino #savetheinsects #melissahalley
September 1, 2025 at 12:10 PM
The 5th watercolour in this series is the Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Purperstreepparelmoervlinder).
Hint about the series theme: 1962 🦋
Painted true size on a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
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#watercolour #butterfly #lessermarbledfritillary #brenthisino #savetheinsects #melissahalley
Hint about the series theme: 1962 🦋
Painted true size on a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
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#watercolour #butterfly #lessermarbledfritillary #brenthisino #savetheinsects #melissahalley
Zeker! Jaren geleden heb ik dat op de foto gekregen. De hoornaar greep de wesp zo uit de lucht en nam die na een korte worsteling mee de struiken in om de wesp daar met flink tempo weg te werken. Begon bij de kop en binnen enkele minuten was er niets meer over 🐝
August 26, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Zeker! Jaren geleden heb ik dat op de foto gekregen. De hoornaar greep de wesp zo uit de lucht en nam die na een korte worsteling mee de struiken in om de wesp daar met flink tempo weg te werken. Begon bij de kop en binnen enkele minuten was er niets meer over 🐝
Back o/t cover:
August 16, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Back o/t cover:
Just finished reading 'Wilding' by Isabella Tree.
Very interesting and now I need a bigger balcony 😉
Very interesting and now I need a bigger balcony 😉
August 16, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Just finished reading 'Wilding' by Isabella Tree.
Very interesting and now I need a bigger balcony 😉
Very interesting and now I need a bigger balcony 😉
Don't just look up for birds and butterflies. Look down too because these babies are out and about 🐸
July 12, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Don't just look up for birds and butterflies. Look down too because these babies are out and about 🐸
Look at the Honeysuckle go!
All this on my Amsterdam balcony 💚
At night I can smell the blooming flowers all the way in my living room 🌸🌸
#honeysuckle
#lonicerapericlymenum
#kamperfoelie
All this on my Amsterdam balcony 💚
At night I can smell the blooming flowers all the way in my living room 🌸🌸
#honeysuckle
#lonicerapericlymenum
#kamperfoelie
July 4, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Look at the Honeysuckle go!
All this on my Amsterdam balcony 💚
At night I can smell the blooming flowers all the way in my living room 🌸🌸
#honeysuckle
#lonicerapericlymenum
#kamperfoelie
All this on my Amsterdam balcony 💚
At night I can smell the blooming flowers all the way in my living room 🌸🌸
#honeysuckle
#lonicerapericlymenum
#kamperfoelie
Nice crowd at my balcony 🐝🌸🌼
June 30, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Nice crowd at my balcony 🐝🌸🌼
The 4th watercolour in this series is the False Heath Fritillary (Woudparelmoervlinder).
Hint about the series theme: 1960 🦋
Painted true size in a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
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#watercolour #butterfly #falseheathfritillary #melitaeadiamina #woudparelmoervlinder #savetheinsects #melissahalley
Hint about the series theme: 1960 🦋
Painted true size in a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
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#watercolour #butterfly #falseheathfritillary #melitaeadiamina #woudparelmoervlinder #savetheinsects #melissahalley
June 27, 2025 at 5:54 PM
The 4th watercolour in this series is the False Heath Fritillary (Woudparelmoervlinder).
Hint about the series theme: 1960 🦋
Painted true size in a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
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#watercolour #butterfly #falseheathfritillary #melitaeadiamina #woudparelmoervlinder #savetheinsects #melissahalley
Hint about the series theme: 1960 🦋
Painted true size in a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
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#watercolour #butterfly #falseheathfritillary #melitaeadiamina #woudparelmoervlinder #savetheinsects #melissahalley
Over the past month the bumblebee nest has been slowly growing.
On the picture it's a bit hard to see but over the weeks a little bump started to appear from the bees pushing up straw making the little "cave" they live in bigger 🧡🐝
On the picture it's a bit hard to see but over the weeks a little bump started to appear from the bees pushing up straw making the little "cave" they live in bigger 🧡🐝
June 17, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Over the past month the bumblebee nest has been slowly growing.
On the picture it's a bit hard to see but over the weeks a little bump started to appear from the bees pushing up straw making the little "cave" they live in bigger 🧡🐝
On the picture it's a bit hard to see but over the weeks a little bump started to appear from the bees pushing up straw making the little "cave" they live in bigger 🧡🐝
Every morning I enjoy this view, a Common carder bee comming home 🐝😍
This spring a queen has build her nest in a big flowerpot on my balcony. It's partly beneath the ivy (hedera helix).
Guess she was happy with both the comfrey (next to the ivy) and the straw/ fallen leaves I use for mulch.
This spring a queen has build her nest in a big flowerpot on my balcony. It's partly beneath the ivy (hedera helix).
Guess she was happy with both the comfrey (next to the ivy) and the straw/ fallen leaves I use for mulch.
June 16, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Every morning I enjoy this view, a Common carder bee comming home 🐝😍
This spring a queen has build her nest in a big flowerpot on my balcony. It's partly beneath the ivy (hedera helix).
Guess she was happy with both the comfrey (next to the ivy) and the straw/ fallen leaves I use for mulch.
This spring a queen has build her nest in a big flowerpot on my balcony. It's partly beneath the ivy (hedera helix).
Guess she was happy with both the comfrey (next to the ivy) and the straw/ fallen leaves I use for mulch.
Time to work on the 4th watercolour of this 15 part series, the False heath fritillary 🦋
Again so small!! 😅
#watercolour #butterfly #falseheathfritillary #melitaeadiamina #woudparelmoervlinder #melissahalley
Again so small!! 😅
#watercolour #butterfly #falseheathfritillary #melitaeadiamina #woudparelmoervlinder #melissahalley
June 8, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Time to work on the 4th watercolour of this 15 part series, the False heath fritillary 🦋
Again so small!! 😅
#watercolour #butterfly #falseheathfritillary #melitaeadiamina #woudparelmoervlinder #melissahalley
Again so small!! 😅
#watercolour #butterfly #falseheathfritillary #melitaeadiamina #woudparelmoervlinder #melissahalley
The 3rd watercolour in this series is the Scarce Heath (Zilverstreephooibeestje)
Hint about the series theme: 1959 🦋
Painted true size in a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
#watercolour #butterfly #scarceheath #coenonymphahero #zilverstreephooibeestje #savetheinsects #melissahalley
Hint about the series theme: 1959 🦋
Painted true size in a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
#watercolour #butterfly #scarceheath #coenonymphahero #zilverstreephooibeestje #savetheinsects #melissahalley
May 29, 2025 at 3:14 PM
The 3rd watercolour in this series is the Scarce Heath (Zilverstreephooibeestje)
Hint about the series theme: 1959 🦋
Painted true size in a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
#watercolour #butterfly #scarceheath #coenonymphahero #zilverstreephooibeestje #savetheinsects #melissahalley
Hint about the series theme: 1959 🦋
Painted true size in a 10x10 cm black square 🦋
#watercolour #butterfly #scarceheath #coenonymphahero #zilverstreephooibeestje #savetheinsects #melissahalley
These are so small!! Its total wingspan is only 3,4 cm.
The smallest butterfly of this 15 part series is going to be 1,8 cm. How?! 😳🦋😅
#watercolour #butterfly #scarceheath #coenonymphahero #zilverstreephooibeestje #melissahalley
The smallest butterfly of this 15 part series is going to be 1,8 cm. How?! 😳🦋😅
#watercolour #butterfly #scarceheath #coenonymphahero #zilverstreephooibeestje #melissahalley
May 26, 2025 at 2:27 PM
These are so small!! Its total wingspan is only 3,4 cm.
The smallest butterfly of this 15 part series is going to be 1,8 cm. How?! 😳🦋😅
#watercolour #butterfly #scarceheath #coenonymphahero #zilverstreephooibeestje #melissahalley
The smallest butterfly of this 15 part series is going to be 1,8 cm. How?! 😳🦋😅
#watercolour #butterfly #scarceheath #coenonymphahero #zilverstreephooibeestje #melissahalley