by KM Wehrstein

My son first picked up a paintbrush when he was three or so, and I thought, there is his future.  He was diagnosed with autism at about the same time.  His fine motor skill was considered deficient, but he turned it into a strength through sheer practice doing art.  He thrived in art class all through school as well as at Trillium Lakelands Art Camp, where he was introduced to many new media, and in Caroline Butson's Creative Art Adventures program.

Once grown up, Raphi took a more commercial direction, selling his original greeting cards, one-of-a-kind cards, drawings and paintings. He made his first three-figure sale as a guest artist exhibiting at The Hub in Huntsville in 2024.  He joined the Huntsville Art Society in early 2025, and exhibited his works at his first group show, the Muskoka Heritage Place Fall Art Walk on September 27, 2025.

Raphi was always very self-directed in every area of life—he even taught himself how to swim. He has a precise mind, a clear and confident vision for every piece, an eye for detail and blessed freedom from the insecurity that plagues many artists. He loves bold colours, solid shapes, touches of whimsy, and he sometimes ventures darkly into horror themes. 

Other interests include music, animation, filmmaking, photography, cycling, swimming and prowling through Muskoka and beyond on studio tours.