Pencil Drawing - How To Be A Pencil Portrait Artist

By Author: Murtaza Habib
Total Articles: 10
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The first question you need to ask yourself is why you would like to do this? What is your motivation behind the goal? If it is simply that you are bored with your current day job, and you enjoy the odd bit of pencil drawing now and then, and you think working from home is a doodle, then think again. Take a look at the following points before making your decision.

* Finding customers are not necessarily that difficult a task, but bear in mind not to over price your work, and of course you do need some recommendations too. In order to be able to achieve that, start building up a portfolio initially. It is easy to offer to do some free portraits for friends and family just to get you started. Once you have completed your portraits, scan the pictures into your computer if you have one because you are then able to have an electronic portfolio also. Having your own website will be invaluable too as you can publish the scanned portraits onto the website, but this is not essential straight away.

* Get some business cards printed professionally and a brochure if your expenses can run to it and ask if you can leave ...
... these at a college, in hospital waiting for rooms, or even doctors or dentists, waiting for rooms and anywhere else that will let you. You can also do a leaflet drop either yourself or by hiring a company to do it for you.

* Some artists like to specialize with their portraits and this is entirely up to you. If you specialize in the advantages are that you get only the commissions that you would enjoy doing.

Animal portraiture is popular and if you are not overly keen on doing portraits of people for example, then it is a good idea to ensure that you specialize in your area of expertise.

* If you are preparing quotes for customers, always be sure to follow up these quotes so that you come across as a professional business and not someone doing it largely for fun. One advantage of pencil drawing is that costs are minimal in comparison to other artists. Also, ensure that you keep regular accounts so you can tell exactly how your portrait business is doing. Although you should see this as a business, because it is a part-time occupation, you can still enjoy your drawing and painting as a hobby whilst waiting for the commissions to come in.

Very few pencil portrait artists make enough money to live full time off the proceeds. It does however add a nice extra income as an enjoyable part-time job. Other advantages are that you can work from home or indeed anywhere providing you have your equipment with you. Be sure that you are completely confident about your abilities however before taking on any customers, not every commission is going to be easy, and if you don't have the necessary skills or confidence yet, then it is worth waiting until you do.
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