Preparing to Sound the Alarm Lithograph by Thomas Blackshear

Thomas Blackshear Art Gallery

Gallery updated on Sunday, June 14, 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

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