Rafael was born in Costa Rica, the fifteenth child of hardworking parents. Coffee plantation workers, they gave what they could to Rafael and six weeks after his birth, he was adopted by an American family stationed in Panama. He became Eddie Proetel and
was immersed in the military lives of his new family. From Panama to Germany to Montana, the family settled finally in California where Rafael discovered ceramics. During the early 80's in a southern Utah studio, he created detailed sculptures of dragons
and mythic creatures on his hand thrown tea pots.
Rafael expanded his talents to glass and clay when he moved to Vancouver in the late 80's.
Whether drawing, sculpting, painting or working in glass, Rafael sees our modern world as yet another
natural wonder, taking shape before his eyes.
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