Two Minute Tip – Sponging
Kevin Kilkenny
This tip is probably the least expensive tip for modeling I think I’ve ever given It could be free if you’re brave enough to raid the wife’s cosmetic drawer when she’s not hope, else these things are easily found at the Dollar store. They are cosmetic sponges. The are dense, yet soft, egg shaped pieces of foam. An added benefit is that they are easily cut if you need a smaller sponge.
In the hobby they can be used for at least 3 things. The first is for replacing the dry brush. The biggest complaint or hits from a modeling judge is that the dry brush result makes the edges of the model look dusty. Take that sponge and to paraphrase Bob Ross of “Two hairs and some air” tap the edges with the sponge and instead of dust you’ll get texture. This also works when you want to pre-highlight for those that like to use glazes as a painting process. In a similar fashion prime the mode dark and then use a lighter color where the highlights go. Again, gently tap the sponge and create your highlights.
Finally, it can be used for highlights to a model. They say that pastels are the ‘poor man’s airbrush’? Well, my view is that the cosmetic sponge has replaced the pastels. The trick is when the base coat is dry, to take a slightly lighter color of the base coat onto the sponge and dab on a paper towel until there’s barely anything there, then dab onto the model that you want to create a faded panel etc…
