I really have to remember to do some research online before starting to paint from a book! While my gull turned out a darker brown then the bird from Drawing and Painting Birds by Shirley Porter, hers didn’t really look much like the colors I see in images on line, either, except perhaps a gull in his first winter.
But he looks like a gull! I’ll just pretend he is a weird hybrid who rolled around in the mud. I had fun painting him so that is what matters.
I like his beak and although his legs look a bit too orange they look like feet to me finally – I reworked and reworked them until I was afraid I was going to rip the paper.
Wazeau's Watercolors 
I think regardless if you researched online or not – your picture is great!
Thank you! It is so hard to put aside self-judgment and just enjoy playing with color but I told myself if I was going to take up a hobby I was NOT going to let any thoughts of self-criticism get in the way of having fun. I know I’m not a true artist but that didn’t stop me from enjoying my crayons as a child and I won’t let it stop me now!
You are totally a true artist. I love that image of the bird (I’m a total bird lady so I will love most birds that you paint) but that was really good! I know because I recently bought a bird painting that looked a lot like that.
And so good for you for not letting that inner-critic out – you go!!
I think your gull likes his picture too, you’ve painted him smiling. 🙂
He does look like he just ate an especially yummy sardine, doesn’t he!
😀