Curiously, the Spanish word for a small boat, Barquito (which is also the title of this work), comes from the same Greek root as "barque" - a three-masted sailing ship in English! In any event, Raphael Diaz beautifully represents a perfect little rowboat for fishing.

Raphael's works are found at the Mapfre Gallery in Spain and the Galeria de Arte Ryoichi Jinnai  in Peru- among others. An educator in Rhode Island today, he was drawn to painting as an only child in New York, allowing him to create a world of extended family relationships for himself.

Raphael supports Rhode Island PBS because he believes that the media and The Arts serve vital roles in educating the diverse populations of Rhode Island.