EGA Challenge First Piece

This year's challenge is a set of 3 related designs. Unlike the Master Craftsman program, there is no "fail" - well there may be, but it doesn't hurt like the MC program. And I can get some feedback for improvements. My three pieces are sea and shore related, as I want to try out some representations of the sea, waves, water and reflection. I painted the background on Dupioni silk:

I decided to cut off the top, as the distant hills make the scale of the foreground all wonky. There are 3 gulls, and two of them are partially reflected on the wet sand. The surf was done with deconstructed flair thread.
Not perfect, but definitely has possibilities. I think if the sea and wet sand were painted darker, it would look better.
I plan to put some rocks on the bottom right to balance the picture.

Details:

I have the second piece painted, but have not started on it yet. These are anemones (without the tentacles) among rocks and seaweeds.