Guest Post: Introduction to figure painting

My friend Bob Bethea has been helping me learn the fine art/madness that is figure painting. I've been collecting tips and tricks that I've learned, but he recently published an article in our local Austin Scale Modelers Society club newsletter. It was a great read, and a great overview of the instruction he's been giving me. With permission, I'm republishing here. Thoughts on Figure painting by Bob Bethea For your first figure you should choose one that is well sculpted and of a subject that will keep your interest. A good sculpture will make it EASIER to paint, and the affection for the subject will keep you at it until you finish. The average person feels that they should start on a cheap figure and work up to the "good", expensive ones. That is a total misconception as you cannot make a silk purse from a sow’s ear, as they say. [...]