The five things you need to become a portrait artist and why perfectionists are doomed to failure. Initially all you need is a passion and a desire to want to be able to do it and then an easy step-by-step structure to follow. The good news is that you do not have to be born knowing how to draw a portrait but is it most definitely something that you can easily learn to do. So regardless of your current level of drawing skill you can become an expert portrait artist.

When learning how to draw a face you need to understand the structure, proportions and the various parts that make up that face. Before I offer you some kind of guideline for the structure, proportions and the various parts of the face, I need to make it clear, that whilst it is really important to get a good understanding of the components that make up the face, it is not an exact science by any means. If you have ever researched the topic you'll know what I mean, you'll find there is a lot of conflicting information and many offering some kind of proof to back up their own particular theory. I am sure no one is deliberately trying to mislead us of course; I believe it is because humans are very diverse beings and there are just so many variables to take into account.

American artist Kim Kincaid is a talented portraitist with a love of fantasy. After many years designing and sewing dolls and teddy bears Kim returned to painting and drawing, and the results are stunning. Unsurprisingly she has received a number of awards for her art and is currently working on her first children’s book. Please visit Kim’s site to see more of her portfolio.

American artist Kim Kincaid is a talented portraitist with a love of fantasy. After many years designing and sewing dolls and teddy bears Kim returned to painting and drawing, and the results are stunning. Unsurprisingly she has received a number of awards for her art and is currently working on her first children’s book. Please visit Kim’s site to see more of her portfolio.

Unknown to many, this writer has also been an artist for over 25 years, and the most common question asked is, "What can I do to learn to draw?". By drawing, it also helps by earning a little extra cash, as well as being inwardly satisfying. In this article, several basic points will be covered as to where to start, materials needed, and the market.