Purple as a Threshold Between Worlds
When I use purple in my artwork, I feel as though I am opening a passage between realities. Purple has always existed at the edge of perception—a colour born from mixing extremes, neither warm nor cold, neither entirely earthly nor fully ethereal. In folklore and ritual practice, this liminal quality made it a bridge between the seen and the unseen. When purple blooms within my portraits or botanical forms, it suggests that the figure stands at a threshold, listening to whispers from beyond ordinary experience. The colour becomes an invitation into intuition, mystery, and spiritual permeability.
Royalty and Sacred Authority
Historically, purple was rare and precious, created from difficult-to-obtain pigments. Only rulers, priests, and spiritual leaders could wear it. This exclusivity gave the colour an aura of power and sacred authority. When I introduce rich purples into my pieces—whether through glowing petals, shadowed gradients, or soft halos—I feel that lineage. The artwork begins to carry the weight of ritual presence, as if the figure or botanical guardian holds sovereignty over an unseen realm. The viewer senses that they are encountering something elevated, a presence that commands respect without aggression.
Divination and the Violet Veil
Purple is deeply connected to divination. In many traditions, the colour represented the veil between conscious thought and intuitive knowledge. It appeared in ritual cloths, tarot card borders, and ceremonial garments worn by seers. When I paint violet shadows or misty purples around eyes, seeds, or mouths, I evoke that divinatory atmosphere. The colour implies that messages are forming beneath the surface, waiting to be interpreted. The artwork becomes a quiet oracle, encouraging the viewer to attune to subtle emotional clues and inner signals.
Botanical Purples as Signs of Transformation
In nature, purple flowers often appear at transitional moments—dusk blooms, autumn blossoms, or species that thrive in shaded spaces. They mark boundaries between seasons, between light and dark. When my botanicals take on violet tones, they embody transformation. A purple petal or glowing seed suggests that something is shifting internally. The plant becomes a symbol of becoming, signalling that growth is underway even if not yet visible. This association resonates deeply with emotional transitions, where change begins quietly and gradually.
Eyes Marked by Violet Light
When I glaze eyes in violet hues, the effect feels both mystical and introspective. Purple eyes in my portraits hint at heightened perception, as if the figure can see emotional patterns that others overlook. Folklore sometimes attributed violet eyes to spirits, witches, or beings touched by the divine. In my work, the colour does not signify otherness in a threatening way but rather an expanded awareness. The viewer may feel watched by a presence that understands their inner landscape, creating a sense of intimate recognition.
Ritual Colour and Spiritual Ceremony
Purple has long been associated with ritual practice. Temples, altars, and ceremonial garments often featured violet fabrics to signify sacred purpose. When I paint violet gradients behind a figure or weave purple through botanical forms, I evoke that ceremonial weight. The artwork begins to feel like a ritual space—a place where transformation can occur. The viewer senses quiet reverence, as though entering a symbolic sanctuary shaped by colour.
Emotional Depth and Quiet Power
Purple carries emotional complexity. It blends the passion of red and the introspection of blue, creating a colour that feels both powerful and contemplative. When I use violet shadows or saturated purples, I am expressing emotions that are layered and evolving. The colour holds grief, longing, insight, and resilience simultaneously. It becomes a visual language for feelings that resist simplification. The viewer may sense a quiet intensity, as if the artwork is holding stories beneath the surface.
The Uncanny Beauty of Violet
Purple often feels slightly uncanny. It is a colour rarely found in human skin tones, appearing instead in rare flowers, deep shadows, or twilight skies. When it emerges in my portraits or hybrid botanicals, it creates a sense of otherworldliness. That subtle strangeness invites attention. It signals that the image is not rooted solely in physical reality but in symbolic experience. The uncanny quality draws the viewer into deeper contemplation, encouraging them to explore emotional and spiritual meanings.
Purple as Emotional Protection
Throughout history, people believed that purple protected against negative forces, both physical and spiritual. Amulets, textiles, and ritual markings used the colour to guard the wearer. When I surround a figure with violet atmospheres or paint purple botanical guardians curling protectively, I am drawing from that tradition. The colour becomes a shield, offering emotional safety. Viewers often describe feeling comforted by these pieces, as though held by a gentle but powerful presence.
Why Purple Resonates Today
I believe purple resonates now because it mirrors contemporary emotional experience. Many of us navigate transitions, uncertainty, and introspective journeys. Purple acknowledges that complexity. It speaks to the desire for connection with something larger than ourselves while honouring personal transformation. When viewers respond to violet in my work, they often mention feeling grounded yet uplifted, introspective yet empowered. The colour becomes a bridge between internal and external worlds.
Living with Violet Symbolism
When violet-infused artworks inhabit a space, they shape mood and perception. The colour shifts with light, revealing depths and subtleties. Some days it may feel ceremonial, other days soothing or transformative. This evolving presence allows the artwork to remain emotionally relevant. The violet becomes part of the environment, supporting intuition and quiet growth. Through daily interaction, the colour transforms from pigment into ritual companion, embodying the esoteric majesty that bridges the seen and unseen.
