The fat bird series started with my first owl painting in 2009.  It was a teal bird perched on a brown branch in front of a washy orange background.   Since then the fat birds have evolved into more than owls.  Sometimes they have ears, sometimes feathers, sometimes fluff.  They wear glasses, top hats, bowler hats, bow ties, neck ties.  They've been transformed to represent people, babies, parents, authors and illustrators.