### Clue: Sponge Bob first sees painter (8)
### Answer: STIPPLER 
 ### Explanation: Definition: painter
 TIPPLER(a sponge/a heavy consumer of alcoholic drinks) **placed below**(… first, in a down clue) S(abbrev. for "shilling", the former British currency unit, nicknamed a "bob").
Defn: … who uses the technique of marking numerous small dots or specks on the painted surface.