The artist places a piece of paper over an uneven surface, then marks the paper with a drawing tool (such as a pastel or pencil), thus creating a rubbing. The drawing can be left as it is or used as the basis for further refinement.
The artist overlays an irregular surface with paper and creates a likeness using a drawing instrument (such as a pastel or pencil), thus producing a rubbing. The initial impression may remain unchanged or serve as the foundation for additional modifications.