described as a "memory artist" like grandma moses or clementine hunter, after earning a business degree in stenography in 1925, sanchez went to ybor city in tampa to work as a clerk. in 1930, he was hired at the monroe county courthouse as a translator and stenographer, and so returned home to key west. he explored his creative streak by writing comedic spanish-language skits for the san carlos playhouse and by whittling small fish native to the florida keys. this carving would carry over into his more lasting works of art, where he would carve scenes into wooden panels, then illustrate them with highly detailed paint work.