The first layer I softly rubbed in with the sponge tool, making small circles; it should work to fill the space between the "bumps" in the paper. The next layer is finger rub work, but at first, I only did it with my fingers and used bamboo paper.

I tried a portrait @aellly once drew, started today but it's still a no ..

Here I made some corrections

This is about two thin layers and the face three. Let's see where this ends.

Btw because this is a test I made a sketch with an ordinary pencil instead of a pastel pencil. Eyebrows are still pencil same for the eyes, I do the latter. I didn't rub the white yet.

Long time ago I ate pears...