Perfection comes from long years of practice, dedication, and hard work. Creating masterpieces of people, animals, objects, etc on a piece of paper, canvas, or sketchbook is termed Portrait Art. The person who creates such masterpieces is known as a Portrait Artist. It is an ancient practice of art which involves making realistic sketches of people and objects on a piece of paper or canvas using pencil, pen, colors, etc.
Skills required to become a portrait artist
- 1. Drawing and Sketching Skills – A portrait must upscale his basic drawing and sketching skills.
- 2. Observation – While drawing portraits, each small detail is essential. It is important to be a keen observer of every tiny detail of the actual object.
- 3. Knowledge and understanding of Anatomy – Portraits like human or animal sketches require proper anatomical knowledge and understanding of their structure.
- 4. Discovering and using drawing techniques and mediums – Drawing techniques and mediums differ from artist to artist. An Artist should know his strength in different techniques and uses of medium respectively.
- 5. Technical Skills – In this digital era, there are emerging digital portrait artists. They should know the use of basic digital drawing software and application.
- 6. Marketing Skills – Those pursuing their career as a digital or freelancing portrait artist should know marketing skills and strategies for earning a better amount.
- 7. Keep Practicing – The skill of practicing daily will keep your drawing and sketching skills healthy and promising.
Top Colleges for Portrait Art Courses in India
| Name of College | Average Annual Fees |
| Indira Gandhi National Open University(IGNOU) | Rs 4k – 16.5k |
| Amity University, Noida | Rs 1.2- 2 L |
| Parul University, Vadodara | Rs 2- 2.5 L |
| University of Mumbai, Mumbai | Rs 2-3 L |
| Jamia Millia Islamia | Rs 20k – 50k |
Career Opportunities in Portrait Art
| Category | Description |
| Portrait Artist | A paid artist who creates customized portraits of clients/customers. |
| Studio Portrait Photographer | A professional photographer who captures portraits of people in a studio. |
| Editorial Portrait Photographer | A professional photographer who works for publishing houses, magazines, and newspapers to capture portraits of politicians, celebrities, etc. |
| Museum Portrait Painter | A museum artist who creates historical figures. |
| Digital Portrait Artist | An artist who creates portraits using digital computer software and gadgets. |
| Portrait Sculptor | A professional portrait sculpture artist who creates and designs 3D portraits of human figures and objects. |
| Portrait Illustrator | An artist who creates portraits of characters that portrays a story. |
| Caricature Artist | An artist who creates caricatures to showcase his talent on streets, events, fairs, etc. |
FAQs
Q. What is the main characteristic of portrait art?
A. A portrait art shows the face-to-shoulder part of the subject but does not necessarily, it can also portray the full body of the subject.
Q. How many types of portrait art are there?
A. There are many types of portraits, some of them include the traditional portrait, a group portrait, a self-portrait, etc.
Q. What are the elements of portrait art?
A. Light, Subject, and Composition are the 3 main elements of portrait art.
