How to Make a Living Doing Pencil Portraits Pencil portraits are commonly purchased at fairs, carnivals and even farmers markets. These portraits range from true-to-life to cute and cartoonish, but they all earn money for the artists that draw them. If you are a talented pencil portrait artist, you can make a living from your craft with just a bit of research and preparation.
• Decide what type of pencil portraits you want to specialize in. You can choose to draw lifelike or caricature portraits.
• Master the art of doing quick sketches by seeing how long it takes to draw pictures of family, friends and stationary objects. Try to get to the point where you can sketch a picture in four to five minutes. Customers will want their pictures sketched quickly, and you'll make more money the less time you have to spend drawing each portrait.
• Research local events where you can do pencil portraits, such as fairs, carnivals, festivals, car shows and charity walks. Look at the websites of these events, and see what they require of vendors. You will usually have to send in an application and a booth fee, which can range anywhere from $25 to over $300, depending on the event.
• Visit your local craft, hobby supply or art supply store and purchase at least two sketch pads with perforated pages; a set of B, 2B and 4B pencils; colored pencils (if you prefer to use them); and a putty eraser. You may also want to purchase a thin-tipped, permanent pen to sign your pencil portraits.
• Obtain a tax identification number from your state, if you will be required to pay taxes on the money you earn from doing pencil portraits. You may also need to get an assumed name certificate (DBA) from your county or state if you will be operating under a name other than your legal name. For example, if you call your operation "Jane's Caricatures," a DBA would not be needed. However, if you call it "Funny Caricatures," you will need a DBA.
• Promote your portrait-drawing service by placing an ad in event resource directories such as PartyPop. This will allow you to earn revenue from private parties and events, instead of solely relying on money earned from your own booth at local events.
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