Blurry Lights: Bokeh paintings & prints

Freedom. Surrender. Softness.

New Zealand artist Mel McKenzie paints a blurry, bokeh-ful way of (un)seeing.

Hang The Penny Drops' award-winning oil paintings & fine art prints on your walls:
Watch the light grow as you soften your gaze.

Explore Bokeh Art

Fine art by New Zealand artist: The Penny Drops

Landscape Art

Landscape Art

Influenced by her Southern-locale, expansive skies and magical light feature strongly in... 

Portrait Art

Portrait Art

‘The eyes are the window to the soul’... and every portrait I... 

The Print Shop

The Print Shop

The Penny Drops' excusive range of fine art prints. Surrender your focus... 

"When life gives you overwhelm, The Penny Drops gives you bokeh"

'Bokeh' brings you the art of softening - of setting down the details and bathing in beauty.
These paintings help you embrace a bit of bokeh amongst your busy.

x Mel

"Gosh - I just really love your work!"

"I love how you can get lost in it when visualising the referenced place, but also sit very happily with it in complete calm not being tied to the specific location."

Jade - Australia

Komorebi Art

Imagine a quiet moment where the light filters softly through trees, bathing everything in a gentle, golden haze.

Welcome to Komorebi - a beautiful Japanese term for sunlight leaking through leaves. It's this calming beauty I often seek in my paintings - resulting in invitations to slow down and let the world soften around you.

Get Komorebi on your walls

Show them you care

Thoughtfully curated gift boxes - choose a beautiful set of prints, the ingredients for some restorative timeout and more...

I want to see more

Gift Cards

For when you're not 100% sure which piece of art they want - or want to make a contribution towards a larger piece... now you can give a The Penny Drops Gift Card!

Get Gift Cards
  • A piece I will treasure

    Mel is very talented and a true pleasure to deal with, very prompt in response and delivery.

    I absolutely love the piece, it is beautiful and Mel's technique is very clever.

    Thank you! Absolutely recommend purchasing from Mel without hesitation.

    Jane

  • Absolutely stunning art!

    Beautifully presented,
    the whole painting was just stunning!
    Extremely happy with my purchase!
    100% recommend buying from
    The Penny Drops.

    Teri

  • An outstanding experience

    My painting was packaged extremely well and arrived very quickly!

    But most of all the painting made me happy - it was beautiful and the quality was amazing.

    I will be back.

    Becky

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Have we met yet?

Perhaps at an exhibition, on a visit to my studio or we've 'chatted' on Instagram?

If not, Hi! I'm Mel McKenzie. I share your passion for making your home as beautiful & unique as you, filled with light & interest - these distinctive bokeh paintings are the 'how'.

Find out more here

Bring the outside in

Baskets for plants, flowers, harvesting, foraging, guest bathrooms, craft supplies, hampers, gifting, baking and more... delicious textures & all the soothing tones of nature.

The Penny Drops' rustic coiled rope baskets feature wild-sourced handles, warm tones and chunky cotton rope.

Browse all baskets