How to Draw a California Sea Gull

All seagulls have incredible flying skills and make an ideal subject for a simple yet elegant drawing.

Seagulls are amazing birds that can fly in almost any weather. They know exactly how to position themselves to achieve a perfect balance with the wind currents. The majority of seagulls, including the California seagull, belong to the species Larus, which stems from the Greek work meaning "ravenous sea bird." They are found worldwide along coastlines, often flocking in large numbers around fishing boats and garbage dumps. As scavengers, they perform an important role by removing carrion. Seagulls have elegant lines ideal for an uncomplicated drawing. California seagulls have subtle color differences that set them part from other varieties.

Things You'll Need

• Drawing paper
• Pencil
• Eraser
• Reference photos

Instructions

1. Find a clear reference image for this drawing. Decide if you want to draw the California seagull in flight or perched on a rock, as in this example. Decide on the scale of the drawing as it relates to your reference image. Double the measurements you take from the photo if you want to draw a bird twice the size while maintaining the correct proportions. Multiply everything by a factor of two when measuring particular elements of the gull. If the beak of the seagull is 1 inch long in the photo, make it 2 inches in your drawing.

2. Draw a line to indicate the rock that the seagull is standing on. Measure and mark the height and width of the gull with your pencil. Indicate the position and length of the legs. Take more measurements to create points along the outline of the body, head and tail. Draw a fine line to indicate the different plumage colors typical of the California seagull.

3. Draw a line connecting all the dots you made. Use smooth, curved lines to accomplish the proper silhouette. Measure and draw the eye of the seagull. Draw a precise line to indicate where the beak connects to the feathered head. Detail the exact shape of the legs and webbed feet. Note the place where the knees are and make them a little thicker than the rest of the legs.

4. Shade the darker wings of the seagull. Use the side of the pencil tip and carefully shade in the direction of the feathers. Keep the wing tips white where they meet the black tail feathers to define the specific markings of the California seagull variety. Closely inspect the reference image to get these areas correctly proportioned.

5. Blend the shading using a cloth but be careful not to smudge the graphite into the areas meant to be totally white.

6. Continue detailing the seagull feathers. Darken the eye, and mark the black tip on its beak. Mark this carefully as it defines the type of seagull this is. Use the eraser to make any further corrections. Add some texture to the rock to finish your drawing.

References

• Wildlife, Utah: California Gull
• SPW Books: Information about North American Seagulls