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Lisa,
I agree with you. I've always said that if you can paint a good portrait, you'll never starve. You may not get rich, but someone will buy your wares.
Portraiture is different than, say, literature. If my manuscript doesn't sell, lowering the price won't help. An artist can adjust his prices for the local market or his desperation level. He may be cheating himself, but the bills will get paid (assuming he's good).
But it all comes down to skills. Susan is asking about how to best build her skills. This is the right attitude. Take a Tiger Woods approach. Drill yourself on basic skills until they're not skills anymore... they're reflexes. We see Beth trying to make a living AND build skills at the same time. It can be done, but it's all uphill. If Susan has the luxury of being able to attend an atelier, or museum school, before trying to make a living at it, she should go for it. Personally, I can't even take a workshop, since they won't let me away from the office that long (Vacation? What's that?). I have to take the self-guided route.
What bothers me about Susan's question is that she's asking about employment as an artist. I don't know if that's a realistic goal. You'll have to accept the feast and famine lifestyle of the lone wolf. I'm looking forward to that, more than employment.
Go for it, Susan.
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