Swan Song by Thomas Blackshear

Thomas Blackshear Art Gallery

Gallery updated on Thursday, June 11, 2026

Authorized Dealer Limited Editions Numbered Series
Thomas Blackshear portrait

THOMAS BLACKSHEAR II, the son of an Air Force captain, was born in Waco, Texas, and grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. "Drawing was all I ever liked to do," he says. "While all the other guys were playing baseball or basketball, I was in my house, drawing." He pursued an interest in art throughout high school, securing a scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago. After a year there, he transferred to the nearby Academy of Art. While finishing his college education, he was recruited by Hallmark Cards and later became the apprentice of illustrator Mark English. <br><BR>
Blackshear settled in Kansas City, where he became head illustrator at the prestigious Godbold/Richter Studio. A year later, he began a prosperous freelance career, illustrating many advertisements, several U.S. Postal Service stamp collections - one called "Black Heritage," another on classic movies, and a third on jazz musicians - and several series of Hamilton Group collector s plates featuring scenes from Star Wars, Star Trek, and The Wizard of Oz. Although he was successful, he was dissatisfied and decided to pursue a career in fine art.<br><BR>


Blackshear has received many awards for his artwork, including the Society of Illustrators coveted Gold Medal. He was profiled on The Living Canvas, an art magazine of the airwaves that was shown on public television, and he has been featured on the Ebony/Jet Showcase and The 700 Club, and in The Saturday Evening Post. An exhibit of his original works for the Black Heritage stamp series premiered in 1992 at the Smithsonian s National Museum of American History and subsequently toured the United States.<br><BR>


Browse and enjoy the great African American Art work from one of Today's most collected African American Artists, Thomas Blackshear..

Thomas Blackshear Current Portfolio

Swan Song Angel At Rest 1988 Wizard Of Oz The Great And Powerful Oz Super Bowl XXXVII Commemorative Poster Beauty And The Beast - Unframed Print Intimacy (serigraph) Original Release Star Trek Collector Plate 25th Anniversary Catching A Blessing Artist Proof (set of 2) Next Generation Crew - Dr. Crusher James Cagney Preparing to Sound the Alarm Lithograph Beauty And The Beast Golden Breeze Anniversary Edition The Vessel Watchers In The Night (canvas Edition) With Forgiven Witness Cards Star Wars Series - R2d2 And Wicket CATCHING A BLESSING BOY HAND SIGNED ARTIST PROOF Intimacy (serigraph) Unframed Original Release Artist Proof Star Trek Lt. Uhura 25th Anniversary Plate Next Generation Crew - Data Star Trek Picard - The Next Generation Star Trek Riker - The Next Generation For You The Sound Of Victory 1988 Wizard Of Oz Liberty Print Only - Limited Edition Texas Chillin Lithograph Star Trek Hikaru Sulu 25th Anniversary Plate Beauty And The Beast Magnificent Mare Waggletag Star Wars Series - Luke And Darth Vader Ready For Battle Little Pilot Adorable Boy Hand Signed Artist Proof Awakening CATCHING A BLESSING GIRL HAND SIGNED ARTIST PROOF Classic Movie Monsters Du Sable-Commemorative Pane Night In Day - Unframed Print Artist Proof Next Generation Crew - Counselor Troi Forgiven Zip Doodle Innocent Wonders Beauty And The Beast Liberty Framed Print - Limited Edition Star Trek Mr. Spock 25th Anniversary Plate Wizard Of Oz - A Glimpse Of The Munchkins Intimacy Anniversary Edition Number 2 Liberty Poster Print 1988 Wizard Of Oz Dorothy Meets The Scarecrow Little Pilot Adorable Boy And Girl Artist Proof Hand Signed By Thomas Blackshear Now What? Lithograph Little Pilot Adorable Girl Hand Signed Artist Proof 1988 Wizard Of Oz We're Off To See The Wizard 1988 Wizard Of Oz If I Were King Of The Forest Next Generation Crew - Lt. Worf Angel At Rest Artist Proof Hand Signed By Thomas Blackshear TWINKY WINK CLOWN Rustic Decorative Stand Star Trek Captain Kirk 25th Anniversary Plate Dinky Toot Innocent Wonders The Watcher Star Trek Dr. Mccoy 25th Anniversary Plate Indian Paint Brush Black Heritage Jean Baptiste Set Star Trek Scotty 25th Anniversary Plate Pinkie Poo Innocent Wonders Artist Signed Golden Breeze Framed Anniversary Edition Next Generation Crew - Geordi Laforge