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