Key West The Newspaper - December 3, 1999

The Man Who Loves Fat Ladies

DAVID LEE IS BACK IN TOWN WITH A NEW BEVY OF FAT, ER, VOLUPTUOUS WOMEN— AND HE'S PAINTING THEM IN A WINDOW ON GREENE STREET

by Hazel Dee

The artistic world of David Lee is occupied by round, happy people who fall in love, offer advice or wear a strand of pearls with panache and style. To look at a David Lee painting is to find the happier side of yourself. You smile when you see the characters or catch the message in the bright, vibrant colors.

The artist reflects the style. Lee portrays a gentle, quiet dignity that is accented with a twinkle in the eye and a ready laugh. No starving artist here. Whatever trauma he carries from life it is not found in his work.

Once an extremely successful interior designer with his own company, Lee is now an extremely successful artist. But it all happened by accident.

After retiring from the interior design business, he was looking for an artistic outlet. He came upon painting and soon realized that he had something special to offer. When his first paintings quickly sold out, he realized that life had changed for him, forever.

Not only do David Lee paintings sell, but they continue to appreciate in value, up to two to three times their original price in a year or two.

Approaching 60, David Lee continues to create his voluptuous "divas." Is he making fun of fat people? Not hardly, In fact, last year, he received an achievement award from the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance.

Need a smile? See Lee's work at the Gallery on Greene, 606 Greene St., where he's the Artist in Residence.