CATCHING A BLESSING BOY HAND SIGNED ARTIST PROOF 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

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