"The Dancing Seagull" 15x15" Oil on Canvas by Richard Robinson.

Get the video lesson here: https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/228-The-Dancing-Seagull

Photo Resource, One Tree Point, NZ

Abstraction and Realism in one Painting!

Follow me one brushstroke at a time as I take you through the process of creating this dramatic painting of a beautiful seagull. Learn to create create expressive abstract backgrounds and lay in the details over the top. Discover the power of a simple palette and a painterly approach.

Good design, accurate drawing, passionate brushwork and a variety of fun techniques are all demonstrated in the video. Enjoy!

Choosing your subjects

I love seagulls. To me they're beautiful sleek expressions of flight and freedom. When they steal your hot chips at the beach and laugh about it, that's on you. A few people have asked why I choose to paint so many seagulls. In the words of many mountaineers, "because it's there!". Because I find them beautiful. Painting those subjects that you love brings out the best in your work.

I once said that all great work is the product of love. Years later I've decided that it's not just love, but any strong emotion stemming from the two base emotions of love and fear can create powerful work. When I choose subjects to paint from I'm looking for those that move me, those that make me again see the magical in the mundane and wonder at the miracle of it all. Those subjects that stir in me the strongest feelings will inevitably create the best paintings. I encourage all students to find those subjects that speak to them and to try to capture that feeling on canvas. Lofty goals!

Student Critiques

Dancing Seagull by Nancy Murray

"Not as painterly as yours I'm afraid, but I kind of like it nevertheless. Will try harder next time!"

Thanks Nancy, you're right it could be more painterly by losing the gull's edges in some places , but it's got some great qualities all the same. Bold brushwork, small forays into texture variety, strong colour and decent value control - that is, you modelled the bird's form nicely with various greys. The top of the head could do with a white highlight however. That vertical white line in the reflection is distracting. This'll look great in a frame. Keep pushing!

1st lesson "Seagull"

Artist: Susan Darienzo

Hey Susan this is beautiful gestural work! I love the contrast of the loose fluid brushwork with the accurate drawing of the bird shape. I'd be tempted to glaze the ground plane a little darker with blue so that the highlights there don't compete so much with those on the gull. Be mindful of reflections off the paint when photographing your work - wear a dark top, take the photo at more of an angle from the top and then straighten it out using the cropping/perspective tools on your phone or image software. Great work!

Seagull in pastel

Artist: Ann Olsson

Exciting colour! Niiice. I'd like to see more detail in the face and beak, but I expect that with pastels you'd need to use a bigger piece of paper to achieve that. I'd also hope to see a sharper edge along the face since that's the focal point. Otherwise, lovely gestural colourful work. Keep at it!

dancing seagull acrylic 12"x 12".

Artist: Edward Trill

Good effort Edward. Lots of painterly interest going on. I've got two tips for you. First, take another hard look in the photo and my painting at the variety of greys that define the 3 dimensional rounded form of the body. With a little more practice you can paint those subtle differences and make the body seem more realistic, just as you've already done with the left wing.

Secondly, in your painting, see how the blue background against the chest has formed something of a dark shape that follows the curve of the chest? In allowing that to happen you've brought the background forward to be on the same visual plane as the bird. Keep that in mind when painting backgrounds - don't allow them to follow the form of the foreground object, unless you want a painting with no visual depth. I hope that helps. Looking forward to seeing your next one!

 My Dancing bird 10"x10" Oil

Artist: Tony O Sullivan

Beautiful painting here Tony! I love all the textural interest you've added by judicious use of the palette knife and brush. Nice to see the variety of warm and cool colours in the greys of the bird which has added more visual excitement too. My only concern is the muddied area of the reflection. Give it another try. Better get to work practicing that little signature!

"The Dancing Seagull" 15x15" Oil on Canvas by Richard Robinson.

Learn About

• Edge control
• The importance of variety
• Expressive brushwork
• Following your inner voice
• Much more!

Get the video lesson here: https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/228-The-Dancing-Seagull