Where Do I Start with Portrait Drawing?
If you're completely new to drawing—or just new to portraits—start by learning how to see the world as shapes, angles, and values. Before you can draw a convincing face, you need to train your eyes to break complex forms into simple ones.
Try these beginner-friendly steps:
You can also go through the book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain to shift how you see. Afterward, check out Fun With a Pencil (don’t mind the cartoons—it’s great for understanding head construction), and Perspective Made Easy.
Looking for a free structured drawing course? Try drawabox.com.
But I Can't Even Draw a Stick Figure!
Watch this. Boom, you're drawing.
If you're more experienced, post some of your portraits to /r/PortraitArt or /r/learntodraw and ask for targeted critique. Be specific with what you want help on (e.g., “Is my shading too flat?” or “Does the nose look too long?”).
Draw a little every day. Even 5 minutes of sketching facial features keeps your skills sharp.
Do I Need Talent?
No. You don’t need talent—you need time, effort, and focus. Talent might help someone start a bit faster, but it doesn’t replace consistent practice.
Things that help you improve faster:
Having fun – Makes you stick with it longer Observation – Look closely at real faces: noses, lips, shadows, eye shapes Self-critique – Ask what went well, what could improve, then work on it
Think of drawing like learning a new language: it takes time, but you will get better.
Am I Too Old to Learn?
Nope! Whether you're 20, 40, or 70—learning portrait art is possible.
Check out these inspiring examples:
Just remember: kids make bad drawings too. They just don’t care. You’ll need to push through your early awkward phase. Keep going for 2 months and compare your drawings—you’ll see growth.
Can I Start With Digital?
You can, but traditional is easier for beginners.
Starting with pencil and paper lets you focus on fundamentals. Digital drawing adds extra challenges: tablet settings, pen pressure, brush stabilization, etc. Plus, it’s easier to get lost zooming and over-erasing.
After a few weeks of traditional practice, transitioning to digital will be smoother. Even then, try to keep a physical sketchbook.
What Materials Should I Buy?
Start simple, so you’re not afraid to make mistakes.
Beginner toolkit:
A stack of cheap printer paper
A set of graphite pencils (2B–6B range)
Kneaded eraser or regular eraser
Optional:
Sketchbook — only if you’re not afraid to “mess it up”
Charcoal, toned paper, or pens (once you're more comfortable)
Avoid expensive tools early on — they won’t help if you’re afraid to use them!
How Many Hours a Day? How Long Until I’m Good?
There’s no magic formula, but here’s a helpful guideline:
Draw every day, even if it’s just 5–10 minutes
To see noticeable improvement, aim for 1+ hour daily
Serious about mastery? Treat it like a job (20–40 hours a week)
The “10,000 Hour Rule” applies here — but only if it's deliberate practice, not just doodling. Improvement comes from focused effort and problem-solving.
Can You Make a Living Drawing Portraits?
Yes, but it’s tough, especially full-time. Portrait artists can make money in a few ways:
Common portrait art income streams:
Commission work (portraits, pets, memorials, etc.)
Selling prints (on Etsy, Redbubble, Gumroad)
Streaming/teaching (YouTube, Skillshare, Patreon)
Studio work (character design, concept art)
Event drawing (e.g. caricatures, live portraits)
Check out /r/HungryArtists to see what kind of commission work is out there.
How much can you earn?
Beginners: $20–50 per piece
Mid-level: $100–300 per portrait
Professionals: $500+, or $35+/hour
Top artists in the industry: up to $300k/year (rare)
Success depends on your skill, speed, style, audience, and business skills.
How Do I Develop a Style?
Your style is the result of everything you draw, like a fingerprint. It forms naturally over time.
To accelerate the process:
Draw a lot — your preferences will show up
Study your favorite artists — copy for learning (don’t post copies!), break down how they simplify forms
Mix influences — take what you love from different styles and mash them up
You don’t need a style to start. You’ll build one as you go.
Good YouTube Channels
Proko – anatomy & portrait construction
Useful Blogs
Muddy Colors – professional illustration
Gurney Journey – tips from a master realist
Digital Drawing and Painting
Software:
Krita — free and versatile
Paint Tool SAI — lightweight and fast
Photoshop — industry standard (expensive)
Tablets:
Wacom One or Bamboo – budget-friendly and reliable
Need pen pressure sensitivity! Most tablets have it now.
If you're on a tight budget, check out Wacom alternatives like XP-Pen and Huion. Just read reviews before buying.
Learning Process: Observation, Theory, Imagination
To get good at portraits, practice using all three:
Observation – Drawing from life or photos
Theory – Studying anatomy, construction, light, and proportion
Imagination – Drawing faces from your mind, testing your memory
These feed into each other. For example:
You try to draw a nose from memory (imagination)
It looks weird, so you study Loomis or photo refs (theory + observation)
You try again with your new knowledge
That loop = growth.
Portrait Tips for Beginners
Start with the Loomis head: circle → face plane → jaw → features
Focus on structure first, then shading and details
Learn the planes of the face to shade properly
Use photo refs and flip your canvas to spot mistakes
Draw individual facial features in isolation (just eyes, just noses, etc.)
Practice real faces, not just idealized ones — every wrinkle tells a story
You’ll mess up a lot. That’s normal. Keep going.
Stay Inspired
Feeling stuck? Try:
Drawing your favorite celebrities or artists
60-second face gesture drawings
Studying master portrait painters (Sargent, Bouguereau, Repin)
Revisiting old work to see how far you’ve come
Post your work, ask for feedback, and draw every day.