Kian Burke Sanchez is an Irish born Puerto Rican artist based in PVD, RI. He is a teenager, 16 yrs old, and is exploring all the changes associated with this age through his work.  His work has been featured in various children’s magazines including Anorak (UK) and Root&Star (US). As part of his self directed learning, he reads about art history and creates art daily, an intentional practice of combining book knowledge with experiential learning. He is part of the creative team at Giraffes and Robots Pop Art Studio and in this most recent series, Happy Little Mountains, he uses, as a base, techniques he learnt from The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross. From this starting point, colorful landscapes with a retro feel emerge on the canvas and are then enriched with the addition of curious whimsical elements that surprise the viewer in joyful ways. These additions are a nod to humor and the joys of curiosity. They incorporate  pop culture and local Rhode Island landmarks within the landscape to give the viewer a moment of joy. Combining joy and the unexpected as a counterbalance to the turbulence and distress that presently permeate our culture. Each piece opens the viewer to the possibility of small moments of joy, curiosity and happiness.