The Watcher by Thomas Blackshear

Thomas Blackshear Art Gallery

Gallery updated on Tuesday, June 16, 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

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