The blog header for endomentalArtistry, an abstract that resembles stained glass in purple, pink, and blue. A translucent lavender swipe overlays the image with the blog name on top.

Before getting back to the 12 Days of Yule, I wanted to pause and look more closely at the image that’s been quietly holding the space.

The background image on my header is called Purple Roses. It began as a photograph of motor oil floating on rainwater in the street. Like any oil on water, it had the full range of color. Yellows, greens, blues, purples. Everything shifting constantly, depending on light and angle. I wanted to capture that color variation, and moved around until I found the right angle.

Later, working with the image, I enlarged it too much and it became "pixelated." That caught my attention because it did not feel digital. It looked like bubbles in glass.

My mom used to make stained glass. I recognized that texture immediately, and it changed the direction of the editing. Now it felt nostalgic.

The original oil slick had all the colors, but I leaned into pinks and purples because I like them. If I had an abstract stained glass piece, those are the colors I'd want it to be. In fact, I had it made into a shower curtain and it changed the whole feel of the bathroom. Those familiar with having a window inexplicably placed in the shower will understand. Even after I put frosted film over the window for privacy, the light from inside made the shower curtain glow. It reinforced that stained glass feel even more.

Purple Roses printed as a shower curtain: a stained-glass-like abstract in pinks, purples, and blues
Not my bathroom. Shower curtain printed by Redbubble

But I'm not everybody. Next I leaned into blue because it worked, and because it opened up more possibilities. It became Blue Roses.

Blue Roses on fabric: a stained-glass-like abstract in blues and violets
Blue Roses

When I shifted the palette toward green, the image stopped feeling floral altogether. It reminded me of sea glass instead. Smoothed edges. Light passing through something worn down over time. That version became Sea Glass, even though the structure stayed the same.

Sea Glass: a stained-glass-like abstract in greens with a softened, translucent look

Any of these images could be sea glass, just like any of them could be stained glass. The end result for me is just as satisfying.

If you want to see the color variations side by side, I keep links to each version near the images above.