I love to make figures and I do notice that I get a little better with each one, but I have no natural artistic abilities and could use some help. Can anyone recommend a book or preferably a dvd that you've used and found helpful? Thanks, guys!

Anyone? Please. I know someone must have something they could recommend. I'd be so appreciative if you'd help me out!
 

I recently bought "Fondant Modeling for Cake Decorators", which has some cute figures in it, with decent instructions including deconstruction photos, which are helpful.

The best source I found, however, is Google.  There are tons of Youtube videos on character modeling that you would probably find useful.  Keep in mind that it's not just fondant or gumpaste modeling ideas that you can use; clay modeling uses similar principles, so that broadens your search a bit.

I'm horrid at making figures, but am also finding that the more I practice, the less horrid they turn out.

While I don't have a specific book or DVD to recommend, if you have a local craft store, such as a Hobby Lobby, near you, in their clay aisle, they will have clay modelling figure books you can use.  Same principles, just a different medium.

Also, I have repinned several figure modeling tutorials on my Pinterest board that you may be able to use.  I find so many on Pinterest that you too probably can find what you're looking for.

http://pinterest.com/mycakebytori/cake-decorating-tutorials/

i saw your post earlier and i got annoyed--not at you--but i have this really cute little book of modeling and i just purely lost it months ago (maybe a year?)

if you can possibly believe this in the entire world--i just found it!!!! yay!!!

it is frances mcnaughton's 20 to make Sugar Animals

it is as good as a dvd--srsly

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1844484785/?tag=cakecentral-20

I borrowed a book from the library last year that was for clay modeling but I used it for gumpaste but for the life of me I can't remember the name.  To be honest with you, I use mostly is online tutorial.  I have tons of tutorial on just about everything.  The only books I own are for gum paste flowers and recently I purchased Animation in Sugar.  If you want to take a look, I have some tutorials the I pinned on pinterest 

http://pinterest.com/goretip/tutorials/

http://pinterest.com/goretip/gumpaste-tutorials/

Lovely tutorials has tons of tutorials but it's a little tricky to navigate sometimes and there are days that I can't see to pull up any tutorials but you may want to take a look.

Carlos lischetti's book 'animation in sugar' is fantastic for learning new techniques for figure modelling. His figures are amazing and I learnt so much from it!!!