I'll give you some advice that I should really be following myself. Most people will tell you to put a portfolio together but you should go one step further. Carefully plan a portfolio. Decide on a specific theme for the portfolio, turn making it into a project. Plan out each piece you'll be putting into it.
Then make a simple website with wix or createspace or some other free service. Then make the portfolio and once it's at least 50% finished, start uploading the images to your site.
Then start tweeting the images out and follow loads of artists (usually when artists get a follow they check that person's account and if they find art there and a link to your portfolio they might follow you back). (This part could take as little as 30 days)
Finally have a separate portfolio purely for fan art; drawing fan art is a fun and fast way to grow an audience of people who have similar tastes to you. (Another 30 days)
Then make a third portfolio where you put your best work from the other two portfolio's. This is like a Display Portfolio. Use this whenever you need to show examples of your work to potential client or a professional who you're trying to impress.
Edit: Once you have an audience you can offer commissions and earn money. (Having a big enough audience will take you 18 months -- at the very least).