How much money can you make drawing pencil portraits?

I really don't want to be discouraging in any way to someone who wants to start a pencil portrait business, but I want to be extremely frank with you about the reality of having a pencil portrait art business. If you have a good paying day job that you need in order to pay the bills, then do not quit your day job! Do the portraiture on the side, at night and on weekends.

It can be helpful as a stay home, part time job, but in my experience, it's difficult to get it to be the main income source. Being a pencil portrait artist is a great part time job that doesn't require moms to leave the home. It's a lifestyle choice.
I like being able to call the shots and be home with my kids. It's non-toxic and portable too!

Most pencil portrait artists are doing well if they bring in $5,000 - $8,000 a year. In portraiture, the biggest gross income is in oil painting, where top quality artists can get $50,000 per portrait, but they only do 3 portraits a year. Keep in mind, though, that although the oil portrait artists have a large asking price per portrait, their expenses of oil paint and canvas are greater than the expenses a pencil artist incurs. Oil painters also have health risks associated with exposure to pigments and solvents.

Click here to see a page about how to price your pencil portraits. I have an ongoing survey to inquire what artists are charging.

Some pencil artists find more income in offering prints of their artwork. You can also generate more income by adding affiliate links to your blog and website.