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
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 🤩.)
We‘ve gotta stop looking as ourselves so critically - with such hyper focus. Time to soften our gaze and get on with enjoying the beauty we already have.
Yours faithfully,
A Bokeh Artist (who smiles with her mouth closed because she hates her teeth 🫣)
Yours faithfully,
A Bokeh Artist (who smiles with her mouth closed because she hates her teeth 🫣)
December 16, 2024 at 3:13 AM
We‘ve gotta stop looking as ourselves so critically - with such hyper focus. Time to soften our gaze and get on with enjoying the beauty we already have.
Yours faithfully,
A Bokeh Artist (who smiles with her mouth closed because she hates her teeth 🫣)
Yours faithfully,
A Bokeh Artist (who smiles with her mouth closed because she hates her teeth 🫣)
“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
3/ the value and beauty of softness, one ‘Bokeh ball’ of light at a time.
November 24, 2024 at 9:07 PM
3/ the value and beauty of softness, one ‘Bokeh ball’ of light at a time.
And when you look in the mirror, say to yourself the same soft words you’d tell your bestie - see the beauty in yourself as you do in them.
Softness applies equally to yourself as it does to others.
Which is why I elevate softness in my art: a metaphor & reminder to you - you deserve it too 🤗
Softness applies equally to yourself as it does to others.
Which is why I elevate softness in my art: a metaphor & reminder to you - you deserve it too 🤗
November 23, 2024 at 9:21 PM
And when you look in the mirror, say to yourself the same soft words you’d tell your bestie - see the beauty in yourself as you do in them.
Softness applies equally to yourself as it does to others.
Which is why I elevate softness in my art: a metaphor & reminder to you - you deserve it too 🤗
Softness applies equally to yourself as it does to others.
Which is why I elevate softness in my art: a metaphor & reminder to you - you deserve it too 🤗
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??
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?
Do we share here? This is my bokehful autumnal creation: late afternoon sun in the vineyard 🤩🍂🍇
November 19, 2024 at 1:40 AM
Do we share here? This is my bokehful autumnal creation: late afternoon sun in the vineyard 🤩🍂🍇
How’s this for some good #shopsmall karma: The small, local business I did my shopping at over the weekend just sold one of my original paintings for me.
What goes around comes around my friend 🥰
Support your local retailers - they need you and you need them more than you probably realise.
What goes around comes around my friend 🥰
Support your local retailers - they need you and you need them more than you probably realise.
November 19, 2024 at 1:37 AM
How’s this for some good #shopsmall karma: The small, local business I did my shopping at over the weekend just sold one of my original paintings for me.
What goes around comes around my friend 🥰
Support your local retailers - they need you and you need them more than you probably realise.
What goes around comes around my friend 🥰
Support your local retailers - they need you and you need them more than you probably realise.
So today I start my experiment with grounding - or #earthing as it’s also known.
Reduced pain, stress & inflamation, improved blood flow, energy & sleep coming right up 😛
Reduced pain, stress & inflamation, improved blood flow, energy & sleep coming right up 😛
November 18, 2024 at 7:33 PM
So today I start my experiment with grounding - or #earthing as it’s also known.
Reduced pain, stress & inflamation, improved blood flow, energy & sleep coming right up 😛
Reduced pain, stress & inflamation, improved blood flow, energy & sleep coming right up 😛