Indian Paint Brush by Thomas Blackshear

Thomas Blackshear Art Gallery

Gallery updated on Wednesday, June 10, 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

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