I've always drilled a hole in the bottom of the figures foot and mounted the figure to the top of an empty paint jar.
You can glue the wire to the figure, but just bend the wire inside the lid, for easy removal when you're done.
I use spray or airbrushed flat paint in the colour of the flocking or embossing powder, and dump it on while still wet...let it sit till the paint dries, and tap out the remainder....works for me