Beauty And The Beast by Thomas Blackshear

Thomas Blackshear Art Gallery

Gallery updated on Sunday, June 14, 2026

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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

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