Portrait Artist Overview

Required Education and Training To Become a Portrait Artist

Best Schools to become a Portrait Artist in U.S. 2024

Mesa Community College

Mesa, AZ

In-State Tuition:$2,040
Out-of-State Tuition:$7,824
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:13%
Total Enrollment:15,772

Glendale Community College

Glendale, AZ

In-State Tuition:$2,040
Out-of-State Tuition:$7,824
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:12%
Total Enrollment:13,342

Estrella Mountain Community College

Avondale, AZ

In-State Tuition:$2,040
Out-of-State Tuition:$7,824
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:18%
Total Enrollment:9,620

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago, IL

In-State Tuition:$51,290
Out-of-State Tuition:$51,290
Admission Rate:79%
Graduation Rate:67%
Total Enrollment:3,532

Chandler-Gilbert Community College

Chandler, AZ

In-State Tuition:$2,040
Out-of-State Tuition:$7,824
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:17%
Total Enrollment:13,775

Savannah College of Art and Design

Savannah, GA

In-State Tuition:$39,105
Out-of-State Tuition:$39,105
Admission Rate:82%
Graduation Rate:73%
Total Enrollment:16,414
Portrait Artist Job Description:
  • Create original artwork using any of a wide variety of media and techniques.

Required Skills and Competencies To Become a Portrait Artist

Job Duties for Portrait Artists

  • Confer with clients, editors, writers, art directors, and other interested parties regarding the nature and content of artwork to be produced.

  • Integrate and develop visual elements, such as line, space, mass, color, and perspective, to produce desired effects, such as the illustration of ideas, emotions, or moods.

  • Use materials such as pens and ink, watercolors, charcoal, oil, or computer software to create artwork.

Technologies and Skills Used by Portrait Artists

Computer aided design CAD software

  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Trimble SketchUp Pro

Graphics or photo imaging software

  • Adobe Creative Cloud software
  • Adobe Photoshop

Instant messaging software

  • GroupMe
  • Twitter

Basic Skills

  • Figuring out how to use new ideas or things
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem

Problem Solving

  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Current Job Market and Opportunites for a Portrait Artist

Top Related Careers to Portrait Artist 2024

Additional Resources To Help You Become a Portrait Artist

FAQs About Becoming a Portrait Artist