{"history":[],"article":{"id":"20093050-7600-4795-8fa7-bd8e0d475788","title":"Thomas Blackshear","slug":"thomas-blackshear","content":":::summary\n![Thomas Blackshear II at work in his studio](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Blackshear///portrait.jpg)\n**Name:** Thomas Blackshear II \n**Birth Name:** Thomas Richman Blackshear II \n**Birth Date:** November 14, 1955 \n**Birth Place:** [Waco, Texas](https://bliptext.com/articles/waco-texas), United States \n**Occupation:** Artist \n**Years Active:** 1987-present \n:::\n\n# \n**Thomas Richman Blackshear II** (born November 14, 1955) is an [African-American](https://bliptext.com/articles/african-americans) artist whose [paintings](https://bliptext.com/articles/painting) adorn many [Evangelical](https://bliptext.com/articles/evangelicalism) churches.\nHe is also a [sculptor](https://bliptext.com/articles/sculptor) and a designer of stamps and [ornaments](https://bliptext.com/articles/ornament-architecture), often with African American or [Western](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-american-art) themes.\n\n# Early life\nBlackshear was born in [Waco, Texas](https://bliptext.com/articles/waco-texas).\nHe grew up in [Atlanta, Georgia](https://bliptext.com/articles/atlanta-georgia).\nBlackshear attended the [Art Institute of Chicago](https://bliptext.com/articles/art-institute-of-chicago) and then [American Academy of Art](https://bliptext.com/articles/american-academy-of-art) in [Chicago](https://bliptext.com/articles/chicago).\nBlackshear worked for [Hallmark Cards](https://bliptext.com/articles/hallmark-cards) for one year after his 1977 graduation from the American Academy of Art.\n\n# Career\nBlackshear designs have been a featured in the Smithsonian, museum collections, postage stamps and music albums.\nBlackshear's illustrations for numerous [postage stamps](https://bliptext.com/articles/postage-stamp) have issued by the [United States Postal Service](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-postal-service) (USPS).\n

[Jean Baptiste Point du Sable](https://bliptext.com/articles/jean-baptiste-point-du-sable) – 22¢ – issued February 20, 1987 (Scott 2249)\n

[James W. Johnson](https://bliptext.com/articles/james-weldon-johnson) – 22¢ – issued February 2, 1988 (Scott 2371)\n

[Asa Philip Randolph](https://bliptext.com/articles/asa-philip-randolph) – 25¢ – issued February 3, 1989 (Scott 2402)\n

[Ida B. Wells](https://bliptext.com/articles/ida-b-wells) – 25¢ – issued February 1, 1990 (Scott 2442)\n

[Dorothy Height](https://bliptext.com/articles/dorothy-height) – 49¢ ([Forever stamp](https://bliptext.com/articles/non-denominated-postage)) – issued February 2, 2017—in conjunction with Lateef Mangum (Scott 474304) \n

[Joe Louis](https://bliptext.com/articles/joe-louis) – 29¢ – issued June 22, 1993\n

[Eubie Blake](https://bliptext.com/articles/eubie-blake)\n

[Jelly Roll Morton](https://bliptext.com/articles/jelly-roll-morton)\n

[James P. Johnson](https://bliptext.com/articles/james-p-johnson)\n

[Erroll Garner](https://bliptext.com/articles/erroll-garner)\n

[Thelonious Monk](https://bliptext.com/articles/thelonious-monk)\n

[Coleman Hawkins](https://bliptext.com/articles/coleman-hawkins)\n

[Charlie Parker](https://bliptext.com/articles/charlie-parker)\n

[John Coltrane](https://bliptext.com/articles/john-coltrane)\n

[Louis Armstrong](https://bliptext.com/articles/louis-armstrong)\n

[Charles Mingus](https://bliptext.com/articles/charles-mingus)\n

[The Wizard of Oz](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-wizard-of-oz-1939-film)\n

[Gone with the Wind](https://bliptext.com/articles/gone-with-the-wind-film)\n

[Stagecoach](https://bliptext.com/articles/stagecoach-1939-film)\n

[Beau Geste](https://bliptext.com/articles/beau-geste-1939-film)\n

[Bela Lugosi](https://bliptext.com/articles/bela-lugosi) as [Dracula](https://bliptext.com/articles/dracula-1931-english-language-film)\n

[Lon Chaney](https://bliptext.com/articles/lon-chaney) as [The Phantom of the Opera](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-phantom-of-the-opera-1925-film)\n

Lon Chaney, Jr., as [The Wolf Man](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-wolf-man-1941-film)\n

[Boris Karloff](https://bliptext.com/articles/boris-karloff) as [The Mummy](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-mummy-1932-film)\n

[Boris Karloff](https://bliptext.com/articles/boris-karloff) as [Frankenstein's monster](https://bliptext.com/articles/frankenstein-1931-film)\n

[James Cagney](https://bliptext.com/articles/james-cagney) – single – 33¢ – issued July 22, 1999 (designed by Howard Paine, illustrated by Blackshear)\n

[James Baldwin](https://bliptext.com/articles/james-baldwin) – single – 37¢ – issued June 24, 2004\n

[Mother Teresa](https://bliptext.com/articles/mother-teresa) – issued September 5, 2010\nA touring exhibit of his Black Heritage works premiered in 1992 at the [Smithsonian Institution](https://bliptext.com/articles/smithsonian-institution)'s [National Museum of American History](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-museum-of-american-history).\nBlackshear also illustrated the USPS book I Have A Dream: A Collection of Black Americans on U.S. Postage Stamps (1991).\nMultiple pieces of Blackshear's artwork serve as the cover art for American rock band [The Killers](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-killers)'s sixth studio album [Imploding the Mirage](https://bliptext.com/articles/imploding-the-mirage) (2020) and its singles.\nBlackshear's original oil paintings in the Western Nouveau genre similar to “Dance of the Wind and Storm” and the other pieces used for [The Killers](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-killers)'s album can be found at the [Broadmoor](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-broadmoor) Galleries in [Colorado Springs](https://bliptext.com/articles/colorado-springs).\nBlackshear also created video game box art, including Karateka (1984).\nThomas Blackshear's oil painting Forgiven (1991) is in the collection of the [Museum of Biblical Art, Dallas](https://bliptext.com/articles/museum-of-biblical-art-dallas).\nHis oil painting Now What? (2008) is in the collection of the [Booth Western Art Museum](https://bliptext.com/articles/booth-western-art-museum).\nBlackshear's paintings are often featured at the [National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-cowboy-western-heritage-museum).\n\n# Personal life\nBlackshear and his wife, Ami Beth Smith, met through the [American Academy of Art College](https://bliptext.com/articles/american-academy-of-art-college), Chicago.\nThe couple have one son and reside in [Colorado Springs](https://bliptext.com/articles/colorado-springs-colorado), Colorado.\nThomas Blackshear has been a [Christian](https://bliptext.com/articles/christians) since he was a young man.\nHe credits his marriage and artistic success to God, “So many things that have come my way during my career are blessings from God.”\n\n# Works and publications\n\n# Awards and honors","current_revision":null,"created_by":"kACnuQmH5k9Nr5VNVEpVeg7XpvUmMctD","created_at":"2025-01-25T21:46:03.898Z","updated_at":"2025-01-25T21:46:03.898Z","search_vector":"'blackshear':2 'thoma':1","search_content":" \n \n**Name:** Thomas Blackshear II \n**Birth Name:** Thomas Richman Blackshear II \n**Birth Date:** November 14, 1955 \n**Birth Place:** [Waco, Texas](https://bliptext.com/articles/waco-texas), United States \n**Occupation:** Artist \n**Years Active:** 1987-present \n \n\n# \n**Thomas Richman Blackshear II** (born November 14, 1955) is an [African-American](https://bliptext.com/articles/african-americans) artist whose [paintings](https://bliptext.com/articles/painting) adorn many [Evangelical](https://bliptext.com/articles/evangelicalism) churches.\nHe is also a [sculptor](https://bliptext.com/articles/sculptor) and a designer of stamps and [ornaments](https://bliptext.com/articles/ornament-architecture), often with African American or [Western](https://bliptext.com/articles/western-american-art) themes.\n\n# Early life\nBlackshear was born in [Waco, Texas](https://bliptext.com/articles/waco-texas).\nHe grew up in [Atlanta, Georgia](https://bliptext.com/articles/atlanta-georgia).\nBlackshear attended the [Art Institute of [Chicago](https://bliptext.com/articles/chicago)](https://bliptext.com/articles/art-institute-of-chicago) and then [American Academy of Art](https://bliptext.com/articles/american-academy-of-art) in [Chicago](https://bliptext.com/articles/chicago).\nBlackshear worked for [Hallmark Cards](https://bliptext.com/articles/hallmark-cards) for one year after his 1977 graduation from the American Academy of Art.\n\n# Career\nBlackshear designs have been a featured in the Smithsonian, museum collections, postage stamps and music albums.\nBlackshear's illustrations for numerous [postage stamps](https://bliptext.com/articles/postage-stamp) have issued by the [United States Postal Service](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-postal-service) (USPS).\n [Jean Baptiste Point du Sable](https://bliptext.com/articles/jean-baptiste-point-du-sable) – 22¢ – issued February 20, 1987 (Scott 2249)\n [James W. Johnson](https://bliptext.com/articles/james-weldon-johnson) – 22¢ – issued February 2, 1988 (Scott 2371)\n [Asa Philip Randolph](https://bliptext.com/articles/asa-philip-randolph) – 25¢ – issued February 3, 1989 (Scott 2402)\n [Ida B. Wells](https://bliptext.com/articles/ida-b-wells) – 25¢ – issued February 1, 1990 (Scott 2442)\n [Dorothy Height](https://bliptext.com/articles/dorothy-height) – 49¢ ([Forever stamp](https://bliptext.com/articles/non-denominated-postage)) – issued February 2, 2017—in conjunction with Lateef Mangum (Scott 474304) \n [Joe Louis](https://bliptext.com/articles/joe-louis) – 29¢ – issued June 22, 1993 \n [Eubie Blake](https://bliptext.com/articles/eubie-blake)\n [Jelly Roll Morton](https://bliptext.com/articles/jelly-roll-morton)\n [James P. Johnson](https://bliptext.com/articles/james-p-johnson)\n [Erroll Garner](https://bliptext.com/articles/erroll-garner)\n [Thelonious Monk](https://bliptext.com/articles/thelonious-monk)\n [Coleman Hawkins](https://bliptext.com/articles/coleman-hawkins)\n [Charlie Parker](https://bliptext.com/articles/charlie-parker)\n [John Coltrane](https://bliptext.com/articles/john-coltrane)\n [Louis Armstrong](https://bliptext.com/articles/louis-armstrong)\n [Charles Mingus](https://bliptext.com/articles/charles-mingus) \n [The Wizard of Oz](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-wizard-of-oz-1939-film)\n [Gone with the Wind](https://bliptext.com/articles/gone-with-the-wind-film)\n [Stagecoach](https://bliptext.com/articles/stagecoach-1939-film)\n [Beau Geste](https://bliptext.com/articles/beau-geste-1939-film) \n [Bela Lugosi](https://bliptext.com/articles/bela-lugosi) as [Dracula](https://bliptext.com/articles/dracula-1931-english-language-film)\n [Lon Chaney](https://bliptext.com/articles/lon-chaney) as [The Phantom of the Opera](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-phantom-of-the-opera-1925-film)\n Lon Chaney, Jr., as [The Wolf Man](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-wolf-man-1941-film)\n [Boris Karloff](https://bliptext.com/articles/boris-karloff) as [The Mummy](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-mummy-1932-film)\n [Boris Karloff](https://bliptext.com/articles/boris-karloff) as [Frankenstein's monster](https://bliptext.com/articles/frankenstein-1931-film) \n [James Cagney](https://bliptext.com/articles/james-cagney) – single – 33¢ – issued July 22, 1999 (designed by Howard Paine, illustrated by Blackshear) \n [James Baldwin](https://bliptext.com/articles/james-baldwin) – single – 37¢ – issued June 24, 2004 \n [Mother Teresa](https://bliptext.com/articles/mother-teresa) – issued September 5, 2010 \nA touring exhibit of his Black Heritage works premiered in 1992 at the [Smithsonian Institution](https://bliptext.com/articles/smithsonian-institution)'s [National Museum of American History](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-museum-of-american-history).\nBlackshear also illustrated the USPS book I Have A Dream: A Collection of Black Americans on U.S. Postage Stamps (1991).\nMultiple pieces of Blackshear's artwork serve as the cover art for American rock band [The Killers](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-killers)'s sixth studio album [Imploding the Mirage](https://bliptext.com/articles/imploding-the-mirage) (2020) and its singles.\nBlackshear's original oil paintings in the Western Nouveau genre similar to “Dance of the Wind and Storm” and the other pieces used for [The Killers](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-killers)'s album can be found at the [Broadmoor](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-broadmoor) Galleries in [Colorado Springs](https://bliptext.com/articles/colorado-springs).\nBlackshear also created video game box art, including Karateka (1984).\nThomas Blackshear's oil painting Forgiven (1991) is in the collection of the [Museum of Biblical Art, Dallas](https://bliptext.com/articles/museum-of-biblical-art-dallas).\nHis oil painting Now What? (2008) is in the collection of the [Booth Western Art Museum](https://bliptext.com/articles/booth-western-art-museum).\nBlackshear's paintings are often featured at the [National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum](https://bliptext.com/articles/national-cowboy-western-heritage-museum).\n\n# Personal life\nBlackshear and his wife, Ami Beth Smith, met through the [American Academy of Art College](https://bliptext.com/articles/american-academy-of-art-college), Chicago.\nThe couple have one son and reside in [Colorado Springs](https://bliptext.com/articles/colorado-springs-colorado), Colorado.\nThomas Blackshear has been a [Christian](https://bliptext.com/articles/christians) since he was a young man.\nHe credits his marriage and artistic success to God, “So many things that have come my way during my career are blessings from God.”\n\n# Works and publications\n\n# Awards and honors","revisionCount":0},"hasMore":false,"nextCursor":null}