When most people think to create a portrait, Illustrator isn't the first program that comes to mind. Photoshop, sure. Pencil and paper, definitely. Even paints or collage seem obvious. But Illustrator?
The truth is, though, some truly fantastic portraits have been created in Illustrator and other vector art programs. And the process can be as difficult or straight-forward as you choose to make it. Most designers seem to start out with a photo, though others have been created from scratch and may even be fictional characters with no reference image. In any case, the end results are fantastic, whether they're kept a bit more abstract and two-dimensional or they've gone for a more realistic final result.
Vector Portraits
Portrait by oddhouse
Self Portrait April 09 by j3concepts
Self Portrait Number Something by verucasalt82
Female Portrait by mftalon
Illustrator Portrait by KrisCynical
Self Portrait for ID by Un-divine
School Portrait by whmurai
Description or analysis of the image, product, etc., if necessary
Portrait by Alexxxx1
Vector Portrait by J-Ro-20
Utopian. by belldandies
The Royal Portrait Part Deux by ArtistHazzard
Portrait by CQcat
Self Portrait II by PhunkyVenom
Self Portrait KDLIG by K-A-D-L
adrianaLima by cd-marcus
Stephanie by verucasalt82
Ewa by lafor
Self-portrait by heloisabrites
Portrait of Kanon by DigitalImpulses
Green by exit82
Ilona by MARiKaArt
Vector Portrait by naunet
Gackt by jmlan
Mother by solgas
Human Face by Lazunov Iaroslav
Further Resources & Tutorials
