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