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Official page for The Art Of The GYPSY Studio. Featuring Art Lessons With The GYPSY

The GYPSY has given private and public art lessons for over 40 years. Teaching at such institutions as Independence Community College, Aaron Douglas Art Fair, NOTO Flood The Streets With Art and from his own studio.

10/07/2026

Topeka Art Guild — Fairlawn Plaza
SPOOKTACULAR WATERCOLOR PAINTING
October 10, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. – Noon

Get ready for a little spooky-season fun with watercolor!

In this special Spooktacular Watercolor class, The GYPSY will introduce techniques for creating moody backgrounds, mysterious shapes, glowing lights, atmospheric mists, and other magical watercolor effects.

The class will be held in the Loft Gallery at the Topeka Art Guild in Fairlawn Plaza.

More Information & Registration:
https://topekaartguild.org/event-6491926

09/24/2026

UPCOMING ART CLASSES WITH THE GYPSY
J.A. George AKA The GYPSY.

J.A. George, also known as The GYPSY, is an award-winning artist whose work has been exhibited in museums and galleries and has received recognition both nationally and internationally.
With decades of experience as a professional artist and instructor, The GYPSY is now sharing his knowledge, techniques, and passion for art through a series of live group art classes in Topeka, Kansas.
Whether you are a beginning artist looking to discover the joy of painting or an experienced artist wanting to expand your skills, these classes offer an opportunity to learn, create, and have fun in a welcoming atmosphere.

OCTOBER CLASSES
Old Prairie Town at Historic Ward-Meade Botanical Garden
ADULT ACRYLIC PAINTING CLASSES
October 6, 13, 20 & 27
Fall Landscapes & Themes
Join The GYPSY for four weeks of fall-inspired acrylic painting!
Classes will be held in the historic Lingo Stable from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. every Tuesday in October.
Registration:
Shawnee County Lifetime Recreation Registration - https://secure.rec1.com/KS/shawnee-county-ks/catalog
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Topeka Art Guild — Fairlawn Plaza
SPOOKTACULAR WATERCOLOR PAINTING
October 10, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. – Noon
Get ready for a little spooky-season fun with watercolor!
In this special Spooktacular Watercolor class, The GYPSY will introduce techniques for creating moody backgrounds, mysterious shapes, glowing lights, atmospheric mists, and other magical watercolor effects.
The class will be held in the Loft Gallery at the Topeka Art Guild in Fairlawn Plaza.
More Information & Registration:
Topeka Art Guild Event Information - https://topekaartguild.org/event-6491926?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=10/10/2026
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ALSO IN OCTOBER — PAINTING DEMONSTRATIONS
The GYPSY at the Flora Lumina Festival
During October, J.A. George AKA The GYPSY will be presenting evening painting demonstrations in the historic Lingo Stable at Old Prairie Town at Historic Ward-Meade Botanical Garden as part of the Flora Lumina Festival.
Come watch The GYPSY paint live as he demonstrates his techniques and shares some of the knowledge and experience gained during his decades as a professional artist.
Experience the magic of art surrounded by the historic atmosphere of Old Prairie Town, illuminated for this special autumn festival.
Come watch. Come learn. Come be inspired!
Flora Lumina Festival – October 12th to November 1st
Old Prairie Town at Historic Ward-Meade Botanical Garden
https://www.facebook.com/OldPrairieTown

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NOVEMBER CLASSES
Old Prairie Town at Historic Ward-Meade Botanical Garden
ADULT ACRYLIC PAINTING CLASSES
November 3, 10, 17 & 24
Winter Landscapes & Themes
Bring the beauty and atmosphere of winter to the canvas with four weeks of acrylic painting.
Classes will be held in the historic Lingo Stable from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. every Tuesday in November.
Registration:
Shawnee County Lifetime Recreation Registration - https://secure.rec1.com/KS/shawnee-county-ks/catalog
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Old Prairie Town at Historic Ward-Meade Botanical Garden
ADULT WATERCOLOR PAINTING CLASSES
November 3, 10, 17 & 24
Winter Landscapes & Themes
Explore the beauty, atmosphere, and unique possibilities of watercolor while creating winter-inspired artwork.
Classes will be held in the historic Lingo Stable from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. every Tuesday in November.
Registration:
Shawnee County Lifetime Recreation Registration - https://secure.rec1.com/KS/shawnee-county-ks/catalog

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DECEMBER CLASSES
Old Prairie Town at Historic Ward-Meade Botanical Garden
ADULT ACRYLIC PAINTING CLASSES
December 1, 8, 15 & 29
Holiday Themes
Celebrate the season with four weeks of festive acrylic painting!
Classes will be held in the historic Lingo Stable from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. every Tuesday in December.
Registration:
Shawnee County Lifetime Recreation Registration - https://secure.rec1.com/KS/shawnee-county-ks/catalog
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Old Prairie Town at Historic Ward-Meade Botanical Garden
ADULT WATERCOLOR PAINTING CLASSES
December 1, 8, 15 & 29
Holiday Themes
Discover the magic of watercolor while creating beautiful holiday-themed artwork in the historic surroundings of Old Prairie Town.
Classes will be held in the historic Lingo Stable from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. every Tuesday in December.
Registration:
Shawnee County Lifetime Recreation Registration - https://secure.rec1.com/KS/shawnee-county-ks/catalog
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COME PAINT WITH THE GYPSY!
Whether you're picking up a paintbrush for the first time or looking to expand your artistic skills, The GYPSY's classes are designed to make learning art enjoyable, approachable, and inspiring.
Come learn. Come create. Come discover your own artistic voice!
J.A. George AKA The GYPSY
“Painting What Is Not Seen.”

09/21/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19avKdBzqA/

09/16/2026

THE ARTIST LIFE: YESO
April 24, 2022
Watercolor Painting By Romani American Artist J.A. George AKA: The GYPSY.

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/yeso-new-mexico-ghost-town-market-ja-george-aka-the-gypsy.html

I rolled down the endless highway into the bright New Mexico day. Clouds hung low in the blue morning sky like poly fiber torn from an over-stuffed pillow. As I rolled along I knew that the soft clouds could gather into a storm, I watched the sky with a wary eye.

Mile after mile passed beneath my wheels as I headed east along Highway 60 toward Ft. Sumner. I watched the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe tracks running alongside the road, rail keeping pace with asphalt.

The clouds had congealed into a soft gray mass and I prayed that if they opened it would be a quick desert rain and not a deluge of biblical proportions.

I was thinking about the last 22 miles I had to travel to our destination when I topped a rise in the highway and there it was; A Ghost Town!

I grabbed the brake, instinctively, pulling onto the dusty shoulder in front of, what was once, the dead town's post office. I did not have to wonder if I should stop, I knew the answer. My artist eyes had seen this treasure and I knew Yeso, New Mexico was mine for the taking.

Yeso means "gypsum" in Spanish; the town was established in 1906 when the AT&SF RR came to the area, and it became a trading center for ranchers (and the very few farmers) in the area.

Its post office began operations in 1909 and is now the town's only business servicing the nearby ranch's from a small metal building. The postmaster lives behind the small office in a 5th-wheel trailer.

Yeso was spelled Yesso during the years 1912-1913, for unknown reasons. When it became clear that the land was not suited for farming, and only useful for sheepherding and cattle grazing, many of the original settlers moved away. Only a handful of people still call Yeso home. On this day I was Yeso's only tourist.

Yeso is a true ghost town in every sense of the word. Its abandoned red adobe brick buildings are slowly returning to the earth from which they arose.

Open doorways beckon you into passages dimly lit by the ambient light of the desert sky. Sage and course grass cover areas of collapsed flooring like a rolling carpet of dusty green and dark sienna. Empty windows stare out at the world while tumbleweed residents roll along long-forgotten sidewalks.

Here and there you can hear the residents of this once-thriving town talking to each other. The desert finch warns the curious Kangaroo rat that the redtail hawk is nearby while the crows gossip about what the diamondback did last evening. If you listen even closer you can still hear echoes of the human voices that once filled the vacant structures.

We moved around the town, photo after photo capturing what one day would be no more than a dusty pile along a busy road. Foundations that served as planters for prickly pear and cholla cactus today would tomorrow be nothing more than a mound from which creosote arose.

My camera's shutters click, click, click was answered by the whistling wind that played through missing roofs and broken rafters. I speculated on belongings left behind and what the town must have been like when it was populated with humans instead of desert willows.

I returned to the highway and continued on toward Ft. Sumner. The thick gray clouds started to thin out as I rolled on. I looked in my rearview mirror one more time for a final look at Yeso. The desert ghost town disappeared from my view as it would one day disappear from the world. It will be forever lost to the ages but captured, at least for a brief time upon my film to one day be brought back to a tenuous life upon my canvas resurrected by an artist's brush.

“Art must evoke an emotion in order to be art. If it only creates indifference then it is not art, it is garbage!” -The GYPSY-

07/14/2026

I'm at Old Prairie Town in historic Ward-Meade Park, all set up and ready for the second week of my Watercolor Painting class!

Today's class is being held inside the beautiful, historic Everest Church, where we'll be using watercolor pencils to recreate the stunning stained-glass windows that fill this remarkable building with color and light. It's the perfect setting to explore this exciting watercolor technique. Old Prairie Town features the restored 1880 Everest Church as one of its historic attractions, making it an inspiring place to create art.

If you've ever wanted to discover the beauty and expressive nature of watercolor painting, I invite you to join one of my future classes through Shawnee County Parks & Recreation. Check out the Shawnee County Parks & Recreation Program Guide and sign up—I would love to paint with you!

www.parks.snco.us

05/27/2026

ART CLASSES WITH The GYPSY

Step into a creative journey guided by International Award-Winning Romani-American Artist The GYPSY. These art classes are designed to inspire, educate, and elevate artists of every skill level in a welcoming and encouraging environment.

Each session blends technical instruction with artistic freedom, helping students develop strong foundational skills while discovering their own unique style. From watercolor techniques and color theory to composition and expressive brushwork, every class focuses on building confidence and creative growth.

Classes are presented live at Historic Prairie Town in Ward-Meade Park in a relaxed and inspiring atmosphere surrounded by creativity and history. Sessions will also be recorded, allowing participants to revisit lessons later for additional practice and continued learning at their own pace while still benefiting from real-time interaction and feedback.

Whether you are just beginning your artistic journey or refining years of experience, Art Classes With The GYPSY provide inspiration, structure, and the motivation to take your work to the next level.

Create boldly. Learn passionately. Grow artistically.

SUGGESTED WATERCOLOR CLASS SUPPLIES

Students are encouraged to bring quality materials that will help them fully enjoy the watercolor experience and achieve the best artistic results. The following supplies are recommended for class:

PAPER
Watercolor Pad or Block (140 lb. cold press recommended)
Suggested size: 9”x12” or larger

PAINTS
Watercolor paint set or tubes
Recommended basic colors:
Alizarin Crimson
Cadmium Yellow
Ultramarine Blue
Burnt Sienna
Sap Green
Payne’s Gray

BRUSHES
A variety of soft watercolor brushes including:
Round Brush ( #6 and #10 recommended)
Flat Wash Brush (1” recommended)
Detail Brush (small round)

DRAWING SUPPLIES
Drawing Pencil (2B or HB)
Kneaded Eraser
Waterproof Fine Line Pen (optional)

ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES
Mixing Palette
Water Container
Paper Towels or Hand Cloth
Painter’s Tape
Spray Bottle (optional)
Pencil Sharpener
Optional Comfort Items
Apron or Paint Shirt
Small sketchbook for notes and practice

Portable table easel or drawing board if desired

Students are welcome to use the supplies and brands they are most comfortable with. The goal is to create, explore, and enjoy the expressive beauty of watercolor painting in a fun and inspiring environment.

05/07/2026

Join renowned Romani-American artist J.A. George, also known as The GYPSY, for a Garden Art Journaling experience. This engaging outdoor drawing session invites you to slow down and connect with nature in the beautiful gardens of Ward-Meade Park. Surrounded by vibrant blooms and historic charm, you’ll explore the art of sketchbook journaling while capturing the splendor of one of Topeka’s premier flower gardens.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, this relaxed and inspiring setting offers the perfect opportunity to develop your observational skills, experiment with techniques, and bring your surroundings to life on paper.

Supplies Needed:

Spiral-bound sketchbook or blank-page journal
Drawing pencils
Colored pencils
Blending tool
Hand cloth

Optional: Natural pastel pencils and charcoal pencils

Come ready to observe, sketch, and immerse yourself in the beauty of the garden.

Category - Adult Art Classes: https://secure.rec1.com/KS/shawnee-county-ks/catalog

Address

4151 SW 29th Street
Topeka, KS
66614

Telephone

+17855719500

Website

https://www.artist-alley.net/

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