Like a clamp, Richard Lee, born Richard Burney, had his arms affixed to his chest in such a way that they were not functional except for the use of his fingers. Determined and resourceful, he used his legs and chin to deftly arrange the canvas, paints, water, and paint brushes around him. He would bite down on the handle of a brush, skillfully maneuvering his neck to dip the tip of the brush into a desired paint color. With great effort, he would move his neck and head up, down, left, and right to create lovely strokes on the canvas, laboriously working for hours, days, and even months on end. A roommate documented his intricate procedure on March 31, 1976, and it remains a closely guarded trade secret to this day.

Richard Lee's journey was marked by loneliness and anger. He started smoking at just nine years old and had a complicated relationship with life, loving activities such as sex, football, basketball, swearing, and war. Sadly, he succumbed to lung cancer at the age of 48. Nonetheless, his innovative abstract art method lives on, providing inspiration to many and ensuring his legacy endures through the creations of others.