James Cagney by Thomas Blackshear

Thomas Blackshear Art Gallery

Gallery updated on Wednesday, June 10, 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

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