Vegetable-Tanned Leather - Water just Sits on Top?

Literally had my equipment arrive today. I tried to wet it to make an impression, but the water just stands on top of the material instead of soaking into it. I’m trying to apply the water to the “shiny” (non-fuzzy) side.

Is there some sort of prep step that I’m missing? All of the videos I’ve seen on the subject just go straight to wetting the leather.