Born in 1971 in Buenos Aires, Costa Rica, Rafael is a woodworker who started his career at the age of 19. At that time, he attended a carving class and the following year took a wood turning course. Rafael was then hired by a furniture factory, where he perfected his wood turning skills and also learned furniture design. In 1998, he opened his own furniture workshop, which he continues to operate in addition to producing his artistic, functional wood creations. 99% of his crafts are made with recycled wood, including sometimes from the wood pallets that are left over in his workshop.