best how to books - figure painting (& sculpting)

Oh, and I wouldn't say that Bill's book is out of date, either.  For the same reasons that Shep's book is a good primer.

Shep's book is timeless.  His tips are just as valid today, as they were back in the day, when we read them in the "Tips on Building Diorama" brochures in our Monogram kits.  I recommend it for your library.

I second Al on visiting Alan and Marion Ball's site, they are Grand Masters in the figure hobby (MFCA and other awards).  The URL is www.mb-miniatures.com/.../home.php

Also, I recommend visiting the sites Timelines/Historica, www.timelinesforum.com, and PlanetFigure, www.planetfigure.com.  Those are the two main websites, in English, for figure painters and sculptors.  you will find a lot of useful info, including ongoing SBS's by people sculpting and painting figures, as well as lots of images of finished pieces, and lots of additional info.

I also recommend the German forum HZ-Forum.  It's in German, but a lot of the members speak English, too.  It's run by Conrad "Conny" Schulte, who also runs the online figure and supply shop Fredericus Rex.  I recommend it for the same reasons I recommend Timelines and PlanetFigure.

The Clubhouse (http://theclubhouse1.net/) is another very good site to visit.  I just joined it recently, on the recommendation of a friend who was already there.  Lots of content on sculpting, across a variety of subjects, though you might have to join to see some of the content.

You can also find tips on sites that aren't painters/sculptors forums per se.  The Maschinen Krieger forum, maschinenkrueger.com/forum, dedicated to models based on illustrations by Japanese graphic artist Kow Yokoyama, also has a lot of content that is instructive for someone looking to learn to sculpt.

I'm teaching myself to sculpt, too, so, that's how I came up with this list ;)

Hope that all helps, and let's see your work!

Brad

Also, dont be put off by the title/subject of the book. Figures are figures! Whether you paint monsters, superheros, soldiers, etc the same shading and color selections are going to apply.

I'll recommend "Modelling Waffen-SS Figures" by Calvin Tan and "Modelling Faschirmjager Figures" by Jaume Ortiz Forms and David Alfonsea Romero.  Even if you are not interested in the subjects, they are fabulous primers on acrylic technqiues.  Each book provides a different approach to figures.  Both are excellent.

"The Art of Painting Miniatures" by Alex Castro is an excellent book.

"Color Mixing Recipes" by William Powell is a book on painting skin, eyes, lips, and hair.

It is mainly directed at "painters" as in "canvas".  However, it gives "recipes" on mixing paint to achieve racial skin tones that could be applied to figures. A nice little primer on color theory too. At $10 you can't go wrong. I have access to Amazon Prime which made it an even better deal.

There is also a fairly new set of books out called "Scale Model Handbook- Figure Modelling " by Mr Black Publications. Its up to vol 3 and sounds like it will be an ongoing series. I've not be able to find it in the states. A seller from Greece on ebay currently has them for $20 each plus shipping. It looks interesting but I'm kinda waiting till a review is published.

The Paine and Kessler books are still available,,check the auction sites and Amazon. Kalmbach probably still has the Kessler book available. I don't think the age has anything to do with the techniques,, yes some styles have changed but the basics are the same...

thanks!

how recent are the books mentioned? - I am guessing the Horan & Paine books are old classics...but are there any newer ones, and does this bear any relation to how good they are?

I will definitely check out those links too, thanks.  Are there any good books on sculpting though?  I prefer to have books ;-)

thanks again

Try Shep Paine's clasisic Building and Painting Military Figures. Great book, mostly oil techniques. Got me started in figures,, a true classic.

Also Lynn Kessler's How to Piant Realistic Military Figures. Mostly acrylics. Another great reference.

Then check out Michigan Toy Soldier Compnay YOU TUBE videos by Dave Youngquist. Outstanding! And Dave is a great guy and very talented painter.