Preparing to Sound the Alarm Lithograph by Thomas Blackshear

Thomas Blackshear Art Gallery

Gallery updated on Tuesday, June 9, 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 Liberty Print Only - Limited Edition Now What? Lithograph Intimacy (serigraph) Unframed Original Release Artist Proof Texas Chillin Lithograph Du Sable-Commemorative Pane Pinkie Poo Innocent Wonders Artist Signed James Cagney 1988 Wizard Of Oz We're Off To See The Wizard The Sound Of Victory Star Trek Scotty 25th Anniversary Plate Beauty And The Beast Magnificent Mare Next Generation Crew - Lt. Worf 1988 Wizard Of Oz If I Were King Of The Forest Intimacy Anniversary Edition Number 2 Star Trek Dr. Mccoy 25th Anniversary Plate For You Star Wars Series - Luke And Darth Vader Little Pilot Adorable Girl Hand Signed Artist Proof Waggletag Beauty And The Beast - Unframed Print Liberty Framed Print - Limited Edition Star Trek Mr. Spock 25th Anniversary Plate Ready For Battle CATCHING A BLESSING BOY HAND SIGNED ARTIST PROOF The Vessel Star Trek Lt. Uhura 25th Anniversary Plate Awakening Wizard Of Oz - A Glimpse Of The Munchkins Liberty Poster Print Star Trek Captain Kirk 25th Anniversary Plate 1988 Wizard Of Oz Next Generation Crew - Counselor Troi Indian Paint Brush Beauty And The Beast Catching A Blessing Artist Proof (set of 2) Star Trek Riker - The Next Generation Swan Song Next Generation Crew - Dr. Crusher Zip Doodle Innocent Wonders 1988 Wizard Of Oz The Great And Powerful Oz CATCHING A BLESSING GIRL HAND SIGNED ARTIST PROOF Super Bowl XXXVII Commemorative Poster 1988 Wizard Of Oz Dorothy Meets The Scarecrow Watchers In The Night (canvas Edition) With Forgiven Witness Cards TWINKY WINK CLOWN The Watcher Little Pilot Adorable Boy Hand Signed Artist Proof Night In Day - Unframed Print Artist Proof Black Heritage Jean Baptiste Set Star Trek Hikaru Sulu 25th Anniversary Plate Rustic Decorative Stand Classic Movie Monsters Golden Breeze Framed Anniversary Edition Next Generation Crew - Data Dinky Toot Innocent Wonders Intimacy (serigraph) Original Release Little Pilot Adorable Boy And Girl Artist Proof Hand Signed By Thomas Blackshear Angel At Rest Forgiven Beauty And The Beast Star Trek Collector Plate 25th Anniversary Golden Breeze Anniversary Edition Next Generation Crew - Geordi Laforge Angel At Rest Artist Proof Hand Signed By Thomas Blackshear Star Wars Series - R2d2 And Wicket Star Trek Picard - The Next Generation