Awakening by Thomas Blackshear

Thomas Blackshear Art Gallery

Gallery updated on Friday, June 19, 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

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