Don’t waste newsprint, save it for cleaning. One piece of quality paper with a dry ground can be used like a chalk slate board, blending away the last image in preparation for the next - over and over again. The same steps of making a charcoal ground also work with Alpha Color pastel to achieve the same effect in color.
Soft charcoal, watercolor paper and soft tissue for blending the material into the paper
Blend with the tissue into a smooth, even, overall tone
Use the charcoal for lines, blend with your fingers to create tones by lifting material
Use the tissue to blend out a drawing and return to the smooth, ready slate.
The slate can be landscape or portrait orientation, and rotation can help keep the usage evenly distributed over the surface.
Fast drawings of figure gestures are a perfect use of the slate technique. Start the drawing with exaggerated energy, then refine.
One piece of paper can be used for many drawings, but prepare two just in case you want to keep one of them.
Pastels are expensive and some are toxic. Alpha Colors are the best brand choice to use with this technique.
Use medium pressure to apply the pastel over the entire piece of paper.
Smooth the tone and surface with a second application.
After blending with tissue, use the palm of your hand - with NO LOTION or perspiration - to grind the pastel into the paper.