McBee has always been fascinated by and curious about animals, ranging from domestic pets to exotic species. Growing up in Northern California, he was surrounded by horses, cattle, dogs, various stray cats, guinea pigs, and even a squirrel or two. He also developed a large collection of plastic toy animals, which he regarded as exquisite little sculptures these in turn became his models for sketching. This childhood collection has been the primary inspiration for McBee's "Fauna" series. The paintings are created using a variety of media, including gouache, watercolor, acrylics, and gold leaf.