The owner of Back Cove Books reached out with one requirement: the mural had to take inspiration from Wes Anderson films. Naturally, I went down a wormhole and watched several of his movies, which are absolutely beautiful. What I love about his style is the color blocking and how his palettes are always either super saturated or kind of muted, alternative versions of colors, which I really wanted to play with. I’m a quilter too, so I was looking for an opportunity to lean into traditional quilt patterning and blocks, and I was also playing around with the idea of incorporating botanical moments. 

I’m a firm believer in bringing the outdoors in, so the mural incorporates different shades of blues and greens. I also added in a coppery brown to stick with the Wes Anderson theme, which calls back to those monochromatic moments with an alternative pop. I kept rewatching The Grand Budapest Hotel throughout the process, and there’s a lot of rich purple in that film, which made it into the mural despite being a color I don’t typically gravitate toward. I pulled from the movies to make it feel like a space one of the characters could walk into. The outcome is an area that feels cozy but fresh at the same time.

The space isn’t just a straightforward, flat wall—it’s a little alleyway with a giant door in the middle—so I wanted to make sure it looked interesting from every vantage point. Knowing that it was going to be the kids’ corner, I wanted it to feel like a child took the blanket off their bed and made a cave with it. I had a reference drawing of what I wanted the mural to be. However, some modifications had to be made as I drew it directly onto the wall. There’s no hiding during that process, which is challenging but exciting at the same time. 

This project was the dreamiest. I love opportunities to create environments that dance the line between sophisticated child and whimsical adult. I find myself often working with fellow mother business owners in spaces for kids, and it’s always a huge draw to join forces and create some magic for kids and their caregivers.

—Rachel Gloria Adams, multidisciplinary artist