[Jehan Chumomisto]

The old woman then added some white pigment into the ink and mixed it causing it to go a lighter color.

“Now I will start off the shading for you on this design. The first thing that must be determined obviously is where to shade, for this image we will assume it is a sphere and that the light comes diagonally on it.” She started as she dipped the larger needle into the smaller ink jar and began poking it into the animal skin. She followed the line of the circle and made it pretty solid but the further away she went the more spaced out the dots became.

She only did a small area but it was done quickly even with her slowing down her pace. She then turned the image and handed it to Jehan who first examine it. “My turn?” he asked the old woman who nodded at him.

He dipped the needle into the ink and slowly began the task of shading in the area. Each dot the came further away from the outline the further away he placed them from one another. As an effect the dots seemed lighter in color than the ones that came before them. It took the young gypsy some time to get it right and even when he had finished it was still obvious where Anagaja had done her shading and what he had done.

She examined the shading and nodded “You seem to have some natural talent at this, though I make only one suggestion. When you are shading try to make it more gradual. There is no need to hurry it along to faded. The person who is getting the tattoo may not appreciate it much as you are doing it but in the end they will be happy that you did it right. This like everything else you learn in tattooing needs to be practiced as often as you can so that you continue to be the best. Do assume that you want to be one of the best and not just some shmuck that can put ink on the end of a needle and in plant it into someone skin eh?”

“You are right” Jehan started “I do want to be the best. I am no gaje I have patience, I am determined and will pick up tips and tricks everywhere I go.”

Anagaja though a moment “You must remember that your daj once went with the gaje, though she seen her way and came back that does not change the fact that there is an appeal to them. What it is I do not know. What I am really trying to tell you manus young, is these saying may hurt your daj’s feeling if you speak them to her eh?”

Jehan nodded and lowered his head red cheeked.. Anagaja smiled and laughed “Though you are right, no gaje has gypsy knowledge. Now run along. Practice what you have learned over the past cycle and see me in two brightening.”