Thomas Blackshear II

Thomas Blackshear II was born in Texas and grew up in Georgia. He pursued his interest in art throughout high school. In 1977 he graduated from the American Academy of Art in Chicago and went to work for the Hallmark Card Company. While working there, Blackshear met and served as an apprentice to the illustrator Mark English. In 1980, Blackshear became head illustrator for Godbold/Richter studio. He began his freelance career in 1982.

Known for his dramatic lighting and sensitivity to mood, Blackshear has produced illustrations for stamps, posters, collectors’ plates, magazines, greeting cards, calendars, books, and advertising. His clients include Anheuser-Busch, Disney Pictures, Coca-Cola, Jim Henson Studios, Lee Jeans, George Lucas Studios, Milton Bradley, Seven-Up, and Universal Studios.

Among Blackshear’s numerous designs for the Postal Service are four stamps in the Black Heritage series (1986-1989), four 50th Anniversary Movie Poster stamps (1990), four stamps in the Legends of American Music series (1995), and in 2004, the James Baldwin stamp. Twenty-eight of his depictions of famous Black Americans are represented in the 1992 Black Heritage series commemorative book titled I Have A Dream. His most recent design for the Postal Service is the 2010 Mother Teresa stamp.

Blackshear has received many awards for his art including a gold medal from the Society of Illustrators. This freelance artist, teacher, and lecturer currently lives in Colorado Springs, CO.