Ready For Battle by Thomas Blackshear

Thomas Blackshear Art Gallery

Gallery updated on Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Authorized Dealer Limited Editions Numbered Series
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

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