Urban Sketching:
Seagulls & Birds
A seaside scene is never complete without a seagull. Learn to catch their shape quickly with a brush pen, add just enough line work to bring them to life, and place them in a sketch so they tell part of the story without stealing it.
Already enrolled? Log in to access your lessons →
What’s Inside
Seagulls by the sea
Seagulls are everywhere in Brighton, mostly after your chips. Before we draw, we look at close-up reference and talk about keeping them loose, like cars in a scene: grab the shape with light brush pen, add a little tone round the tail and wings, then finish with line work.
Seagull with attitude
A seagull that hasn’t been fed chips is not in a good mood. Starting with the N79, we grab the open beak and the body, then add light tone with the N95, a feather sticking up at the back, the legs and the eye. A 0.1 fine liner finishes the beak.
Flying seagull
The same bird, now flying through the air. We see the wings as very simple shapes with the N95, then the body, legs and head. The N79 gives the dark wing tips and a 0.1 fine liner finishes.
Two ways to draw a bird
I don’t usually paint the sky, but if there are seagulls, the birds are part of the story.
Seagulls in a scene
Never miss the chance to draw a seagull. Three sketches show what they can do: one perched on an old fishing boat, Henry keeping me company and filling an empty space, and a whole flock in the sky over Essaouira.
£8
One-time payment. Lifetime access.
Enrolment opens soonAlready enrolled? Log in to access your lessons →
Questions about this bundle
What is in Urban Sketching: Seagulls & Birds?
5 short video exercises: Seagulls by the sea; Seagull with attitude; Flying seagull; Two ways to draw a bird; Seagulls in a scene. It costs £8 once and you keep lifetime access.
Do I need to have done a painting workshop first?
No. A bundle is a separate, self-contained set of exercises on one skill. If you later want to see skills like this used in a whole painting, my painting workshops do exactly that.
When can I enrol?
Enrolment opens soon. This page will show an Enrol button when it does.
Can I get a refund?
Yes, within 14 days of purchase, as long as you have not gone beyond the introduction or first lesson, because by then you have received the digital content. Email mike@artyfactor.com with the bundle name and the email you enrolled with. The full wording is in the Refund and returns policy.
How long do I have access?
It is one payment of £8 and you keep lifetime access.
Where this leads
Want to see the whole picture?
This bundle covers one skill. My painting workshops show how skills like this come together in a finished painting, one stage at a time.
Explore the painting workshops