How did you get started and then develop your career?
Chris Rapa: My parents set me loose on a basement wall with brushes and cans of house paint when I was 4 years old, and I have been painting ever since. My career as a working artist began about 25 years ago, when a mural I painted as a favor for a friend won an award at the DC Home and Garden Show. Suddenly, unexpectedly, I had a business, and began painting murals and decorative finishes in the Baltimore area. I have transitioned over the years, and now devote my energy almost entirely to my studio work and plein air practice.
How do you find inspiration?
Chris Rapa: For me it is simple; I paint what I love. I paint still life arrangements of collected treasures, interior spaces illuminated by natural light, and the landscape, wherever I find myself. I work mainly from observation, and over the years, my work has evolved from careful rendering to looser, more interpretive depictions. I work quickly, “alla prima” in one painting session to capture a moment of light. For me, a successful painting is colorful, energetic, and a celebration of simplicity.
To see more of Chris’ work, visit:
Website
![Leon Wyczółkowski, "U WRÓT CHAŁUBIŃSKIEGO [AT THE CHAŁUBIŃSKI GATE]," c. 1905, pastel on paper, 30 1/2 x 42 1/3 in., National Museum in Kraków](https://www.outdoorpainter.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Leon_Wyczolkowski_-_U_Wrot_Chalubinskiego_-_MNK_III-r-218x150.jpg "Painting of the Week: “U Wrót Chałubińskiego”")
