become a professional portrait artist

I want to become a professional portrait artist.

I’ve been drawing all my life, and can draw a life-like portraits in pencil. Well, I can draw anything, I suppose, but I like people best. I’ve always wanted to do this for a living, but I’ve never figured out how to get it going. I guess I need to take a business course and learn marketing.

And apparently, drawing doesn’t cut it. I can get plenty of people to ask for a free portrait, but only a few people have ever paid for anything.I think I need to do paintings instead. I don’t like water-color or acrylics, but I’ve never even tried oils before. But I’ve bought all the supplies, so I’m headed in the right direction, at least.