The Vessel by Thomas Blackshear

Thomas Blackshear Art Gallery

Gallery updated on Friday, June 19, 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

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