Swan Song by Thomas Blackshear

Thomas Blackshear Art Gallery

Gallery updated on Saturday, June 13, 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

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