Cheeky Seagull at the Fishing Boat Jetty with Cabanas in the background 

We’ve been living by this part of the Portuguese coastline for three years, so I decided it’s about time to tackle capturing seagulls with ink and watercolour. We have an active fishing boat dock, and plenty of seagulls hoping for a daily snack, so there’s plenty of inspiration to draw from.

First Attempt at Sketching Seagulls

I hadn’t realised how active seagulls were, until I tried sketching them from life for the first time. There was no time to really look at my paper, I had to sketch quick and keep my eye on them.

Even though they turned out wonky, I still think they have a lot of charm and character.

Second Attempt at Sketching Seagulls

My second attempt was a little bit more successful, because I had a good vantage point on the fishing boat jetty. I was able to observe them more closely.

I was able to recognise their repeated movements, and chose seagulls that were a little more sedentary. They really are quirky creatures.

Third Attempt at Sketching Seagulls

My third attempt was even more adventurous. I was able to capture a few in flight. It was early morning and the fishermen had returned from one of their nightly fishing jaunts and were going through their hauls and throwing tidbits for the seagulls, which sent them into a flying frenzy.

I definitely need a lot more practice at capturing Cabanas seagulls with my ink lines. But it’s a good observational exercise, and the more I watch them, the quirkier they appear.

My Favourite Seagull Sketch … so far

I was really happy how this cheeky little chap below turned out. Just goes to show that you only need a few simple lines to create a believable seagull.

Algarve Seagulls

We have a few different breeds of seagull here in the Algarve, and some of them are seasonal visitors. For the first time since moving here, I’m paying more attention to our feathered friends.

Fourth Attempt at a Seagulls by the Fishing Boat Harbour

I walked down to the fishing boat dock to sketch some chilled seagulls sitting on the sand during low tide. And also sketched a few of the fisherman on the dock.

A new fishing boat had just arrived and was throwing some of the fish back into the water, and that caused a frenzy of splashing gulls. When I sketched these in ink they didn’t look that effective. But once I added watercolour to the gulls, and splashes of water to each one, it transformed these sketches into something dynamic and interesting.

While they’re not anatomically correct, I love this loose style of sketching these gulls. They have a lot more life, and the sketches are far more expressive than the seagulls that are just hanging out on the sand.