Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to The GYPSY. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi The GYPSY, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I was 7 years old and in First Grade. The teacher asked the students, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” My answer was simple; “I want to be an Artist, I want to be Famous and I want to be Rich.” Sixty years later I have accomplished 2 of those three. I have yet to win the lottery.

The GYPSY, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I had an interview with a Hallmark recruiter and was offered a 15 year contract. I turned it down. At 19 years old I could not see anyone owning his soul for 15 years. Looking for ways to kill time rather than go home and tell his mother he would not be creating art for Hallmark I stopped by a Tattoo Studio. That visit led to a lifetime career. Read The Entire Story Of That Day Here.

Since 1976 I practiced the Ancient Art of Tattooing. He also continued to refine his fine art. In 1977 I attended Platte College in Saint Joseph, Missouri where he studied Mechanical Drafting and Technical Illustration. In 1978 I became the Business Manager for the Missouri Reapers Motorcycle Club. It was this step into the world of the Outlaw Biker that led to “The” being added to Gypsy’s name.

I noticed that a lot of Bikers were using the moniker “Gypsy” as their club or rider name yet none of them were actually Romani. When I would question them about their use of the name he would often get one of two responses; “I’m a free spirit”  or “I travel a lot”.

I felt that Gadje (those who are not Gypsy) who used the name of his people who were not Romani did a disservice to the traditions, culture and history tied to the Gypsies. So I added  “The” to his name and capitalized “GYPSY” to set himself apart from those who appropriated the name Gypsy who were not Gypsy.

The GYPSY started signing his less serious artwork “The GYPSY” while signing his more serious pieces “JAG”. A good example of this was when he would hand paint a Motorcycle tank or helmet he would sign it “The GYPSY”. When he did a painting he would sign it “JAG”. He carried this into his Body Art career eventually being known as Tattoo Artist The GYPSY.

The GYPSY had the first legal Body Art Studios in Saint Joseph, Missouri – Abilene, Texas – San Angelo, Texas – Midland, Texas – Baxter Springs, Kansas – Independence, Kansas – Iola, Kansas – Clyde, Texas and Eula, Texas. The GYPSY created and promoted the first Tattoo Show From 1993 – 1997 first in Baxter Springs, Kansas and then in Pittsburg, Kansas. The GYPSY was Chairperson for the Baxter Springs Joint Tourism and Beatification Committee from 1993 to 2000. He was also a board member of the Southeast Kansas Tourism Region. From 1995 to 2010 The GYPSY was the official authority and regulator on Tattooing for the Osage Nation.

In 2008 The GYPSY took and passed the Tattoo Mastery Test presented by the Alliance of Professional Tattooist. At that time The GYPSY became one of only 27 people worldwide who had passed the test and earned the title Master Tattoo Artist. In 2009 The GYPSY was appointed by Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson to the Kansas Board of Cosmetology as the Body Art Industry Representative for the State of Kansas.

The GYPSY has art exhibited in the Baxter Springs History Museum as well as being featured as an American Artist in a traveling art exhibit in Australia.  He has won numerous awards for his tattoo art and has been featured in television and movie documentaries. The GYPSY is the most experienced Body Artist in the State of Kansas. In 2016 The GYPSY closed the doors on his Skin Art Creations Tattoo Emporium studio and entered semi-retirement.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In March of 1974 MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas announced an Art Contest that would take place during an annual church conference at the University. Gypsy’s minister Richard Parrot suggested he entered. Gypsy created a black and blue pen and ink drawing of Christ on the Cross for his entry. It did not win. The winner was a very basic pencil drawing rendered by the University President’s daughter. Despite the biased loss Gypsy’s artwork was notice by the Editor of the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri. The Editor ask Gypsy if he would be interested in illustrating a couple of stories for their magazines. The answer was an enthusiastic yes.

Gypsy had illustrated two stories. One for The Standard; A story about a Juvenile Court Judge that gives a repeat offender a chance to redeem himself. The other story was in a smaller periodical and was called “Sometimes They Gather”. It was a “Don’t Judge A Book By It’s Cover” story. Gypsy was paid $75 for each illustration. Both of these works made Gypsy not only a published artist but also a profession artist at 17 years of age. Shortly after these two publications were distributed worldwide the Editor approached Gypsy with a special project.

The Editor, remembering the pen and ink picture Gypsy had entered in the University Art Contest, asked him to create a head and shoulder drawing of a cheerful Jesus for a calendar the publishing house was doing that would, like the magazines, be distributed worldwide. When Gypsy told his mother about it is gleefully exclaimed, “You’ll be famous.” Gypsy smiled at the thought as it was one of his goals. When Gypsy was 10 years old and had still been James his mother asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. The child had said, without hesitation, “I want to be an Artist, I want to be famous and I want to be rich.” Gypsy felt like he was on his way to those 3 goals.

The calendar came out with Gypsy’s artwork on it. He had created a sort of Cameo depiction of Jesus. Gypsy was proud of his artwork and Shirley was even prouder showing it to everyone she could. A couple of months later as Shirley was coming home from work she saw a car in front of her that had a bumper sticker that featured her sons artwork with the words “Jesus Saves”. She followed the car and when it stopped she asked the woman who was driving it if she could look at the bumper sticker. Along the bottom of the bumper sticker was the copyright info and the publisher; Nazarene Publishing House. There was also a line that listed the artist and it wasn’t her son.

When Shirley got home she phoned the Editor at Nazarene Publishing House and demanded he explain himself. He stated that since the Publishing House had paid Gypsy for the artwork it was theirs to use as they saw fit. He also said, “If we want to attribute the art to one of our better known artists we can do that also.” Gypsy never did freelance art for the Nazarene Publishing House again.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

We are a Christian Owned and Operated Business: We will do no art that is in direct conflict with the word of God; no exceptions. This includes but is not limited to Racist, Satanic and Derogatory Tattoos and Art aimed at degrading any group of individuals or that promote hate and evil.

The GYPSY is the most experienced licensed Body Artist in Kansas. A Formally Trained Tattoo Artist The GYPSY has been Tattooing Since 1976. The GYPSY is also the only Body Piercer in Kansas to have gone to school to learn how to Pierce. He has been piercing professionally since 1990. In 2008 The GYPSY became one of only a few worldwide to have passed the Alliance of Professional Tattooist Tattoo Mastery Test. He was also appointed by Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson to the Kansas Board of Cosmetology where he served as the Representative for Kansas Body Artists from 2009 to 2010. The GYPSY’s philosophy has always been; “You can give someone the greatest Body Art in the world but when you forget that it is about them and not about you the art becomes something less than great.”

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ArtOfTheGYPSY.net AND www.Ubtat2d.com
• Instagram: @ArtistAlyStudio AND @ubtat2d
• Facebook: @ArtistAlyStudio And @ArtOfTheGYPSY
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@artistalleystudio AND https://www.youtube.com/@ubtat2d

Image Credits
James Alan George