Indian Paint Brush by Thomas Blackshear

Thomas Blackshear Art Gallery

Gallery updated on Wednesday, June 17, 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

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