Preparing to Sound the Alarm Lithograph by Thomas Blackshear

Thomas Blackshear Art Gallery

Gallery updated on Monday, June 22, 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

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