CATCHING A BLESSING BOY HAND SIGNED ARTIST PROOF by Thomas Blackshear

Thomas Blackshear Art Gallery

Gallery updated on Thursday, June 18, 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

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