Thomas Blackshear II: Art, Career & Collecting FAQs

Thomas Blackshear II is an award-winning African American fine artist and illustrator known for dramatic lighting, expressive characters, and visual storytelling. His subjects include cowboys, Native American people, Christian imagery, portraits, horses, wildlife, and imaginative scenes.

He was inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame in 2020. [1]

Thomas combines realism with dramatic light, expressive composition, and symbolism. His paintings often capture a moment that suggests a larger story, inviting viewers to consider what a character has experienced or what might happen next.

The website features Western art, Black cowboy paintings, Native American subjects, Christian and spiritual artwork, and selections from Thomas’s illustration career. Some works are available as prints or limited editions; others document his artistic history.

Explore Thomas’s past artwork.

Thomas’s Christian and spiritual artwork includes Forgiven, Forgiven II, Coat of Many Colors, and Watchers in the Night. His spiritual imagery explores faith, grace, forgiveness, hope, and protection through symbolism and emotion.

Forgiven offers a visual expression of humanity’s need for grace and the compassion of Christ. Its imagery invites reflection on forgiveness, surrender, and restoration, speaking to people who have experienced regret, exhaustion, or the longing for a new beginning.

Browse the official store and the Signed & Numbered Prints collection for available Christian artwork. Availability differs by title and edition. A painting’s appearance in the historical gallery does not necessarily mean it is available as a print.

Thomas’s religious artwork draws on Christian faith and biblical themes. Some works communicate through symbolism rather than depicting a specific biblical event. His images encourage viewers to consider the personal meaning of faith, compassion, redemption, and the relationship between God and humanity.

Yes. Black cowboys are an important part of Thomas’s Western artwork. Through expression, posture, clothing, and setting, he creates individual characters with personality and presence. His paintings invite viewers to imagine lives and stories beyond the moment shown.

His Western artwork includes Now What, Texas Chillin, Two Americans of the Old West, A Much Needed Break, The Blue Bird, and Magnificent Mare.

The Western Art collection brings together works from across his career. Check individual pages for purchasing information.

Thomas approaches Western subjects through character and story. A quiet expression, a gesture, or a carefully placed light can suggest tension, humor, reflection, or resilience. His paintings bring together Western subjects and his background in narrative illustration.

Yes. His Western body of work includes paintings depicting Native American people, including Nez Perce, Hopi Maiden, Many Feathers, Crow, and Warrior of the West. Explore the Western Art collection to see these subjects. Not every painting displayed is available to purchase.

• 2022: Express Ranches Great American Cowboy Award for Two Americans of the Old West, at Prix de West. [3]
• 2024: Prix de West Purchase Award for A Much Needed Break, acquired for the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s permanent collection. [4]
• 2024: Artist Excellence Award, sponsored by Art of the West magazine, as documented by his representing gallery. [6]
• 2025: William B. Travis Award for Patrons’ Choice for The Blue Bird, at the Briscoe Western Art Museum’s Night of Artists. [5]

Browse the Signed & Numbered Prints and Limited Edition Giclée Prints collections. For a broader view of his paintings, visit the Western Art collection. Historical artwork and current store inventory are not always the same.

After studying at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, Thomas worked at Hallmark in Kansas City and apprenticed with illustrator Mark English. He became head illustrator at Godbold/Richter Studio in 1980 and began working full-time as a freelance illustrator in 1982. [2]

The Society of Illustrators lists Disney Pictures, George Lucas Studios, Universal Studios, International Wildlife, and National Geographic among his clients. His illustrations have appeared in advertising, books, magazines, greeting cards, calendars, posters, and collectibles. [2]

Thomas was inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame in 2020, an honor recognizing distinguished achievement in illustration. His career spans commercial illustration, collectible art, and fine art. [1]

Yes. His Society of Illustrators biography credits him with illustrating 30 U.S. postage stamps. Documented projects include the 1997 Classic Movie Monsters stamps and the 2010 Mother Teresa commemorative stamp. [2] [7] [8]

Yes. Thomas illustrated the five Classic Movie Monsters commemorative stamps issued in 1997. The Smithsonian National Postal Museum credits Derry Noyes with the stamp design and Thomas with the illustrations. The series depicts Dracula, the Phantom of the Opera, the Wolf Man, the Mummy, and Frankenstein’s monster. [7]

Yes. Thomas painted the portrait used on the U.S. Mother Teresa commemorative stamp issued September 5, 2010. The U.S. Postal Service identifies him as the portrait artist. [8]

Yes. The Society of Illustrators credits him with illustrating the commemorative stamp book I Have a Dream. Illustrating a commemorative book is distinct from creating an individual postage-stamp image. [2]

Yes. His illustration career includes work for entertainment clients and collector-plate projects. The Classic Movie Monsters stamps also demonstrate his work with cinematic subjects. [2] [7]

Ebony Visions is Thomas Blackshear II’s collection of African American figurines, introduced in 1995. It translates his approach to character, gesture, and storytelling into sculptural form. [2]

Yes. For example, A Much Needed Break entered the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s permanent collection through the 2024 Prix de West Purchase Award. Collection ownership does not guarantee that a painting is currently on display; contact the museum before planning a visit around a particular work. [4]

Purchase selected prints directly through ByBlackshear’s official store. Each listing describes the specific artwork, format, and edition offered.

An original painting is the unique physical work created by the artist. A reproduction print presents that image in another format. Prints can differ in dimensions, material, printing method, edition size, and signature status.

A giclée is a fine art print made using an inkjet printing process, on materials such as paper or canvas. The term describes the printing method; it does not automatically mean a print is signed or limited. Check the listing for those details.

A limited edition has a defined number of prints within that edition. An open edition does not have a fixed edition size. Neither term alone guarantees an artist’s signature. Check the product page for numbering, signature, and documentation details.

The official Signed & Numbered Prints collection offers prints personally signed by Thomas and individually numbered. Open-edition prints are not automatically signed. Always review the individual listing.

The Signed & Numbered Prints collection includes a Certificate of Authenticity. Check the specific product page to confirm all accompanying materials. The certificate documents the edition; it does not guarantee future resale value.

Framing is included only when the product description explicitly says so. Review the listing before ordering. [9]

No. The website is both a store and a record of Thomas’s artistic legacy. It includes historical works, sold originals, museum acquisitions, and sold-out editions alongside available products.

Original-painting availability differs from the online print inventory. Visit Thomas’s biography for gallery representation information, or contact ByBlackshear about a particular work.

Keep artwork away from direct sunlight, excessive moisture, and major temperature changes. Avoid touching the printed surface. Ask a professional framer about protection appropriate for your paper or canvas edition.

Future resale value is not guaranteed. Condition, edition size, signature, provenance, and demand can affect collectibility. Choose artwork you appreciate and want to live with.

Standard orders usually ship within 2–4 weeks; preorders have an estimated 8–12-week shipment window, measured from ordering. A different product-specific estimate takes precedence. These are preparation windows, not delivery dates; transit takes additional time. Faster carrier service does not accelerate preparation. [9]

The order waits until everything is ready. The latest applicable shipment window governs the entire order, which may travel in multiple packages. [9]

Checkout shows eligible destinations, services, and costs. International recipients pay applicable import charges unless collected at checkout. Tracking is provided when available. See the Shipping Policy. [9]

Signed, numbered, and limited-edition artwork cannot be returned or exchanged for a change of mind or preference. Applicable legal rights remain unaffected. See the Refund Policy. [10]

Email support@byblackshear.com within 7 days of delivery. Include your order number, an explanation, and photos of the item and any damaged packaging. Keep all packaging and accompanying materials. Approved claims may receive a correction, replacement, or refund; identical replacements are not guaranteed. Wait for return instructions before sending anything back. [10]

Contact support promptly. Cancellation may be possible before processing, but is not guaranteed once preparation or shipment begins. If a shipment delay requires your consent, you will receive an updated estimate and options to accept the delay or cancel affected unshipped items for a refund. [10]

Refunds go to the original payment method; bank processing takes additional time. Original shipping charges may be nonrefundable except for damage, defects, incorrect shipments, or other ByBlackshear errors. [10]

Subscribe to the Inspired ByBlackshear newsletter using the form on ByBlackshear.com for artwork announcements, studio stories, and updates—including news about the upcoming Forgiven prints.

• Shop All Collections
• Explore Western Art
• View Signed & Numbered Prints
• Explore Limited Edition Giclée Prints
• Browse Open Edition Prints
• Read Thomas’s Biography