Thomas Blackshear – Sacred Art Paintings Are Given By God

Thomas Blackshear, a graduate from the American Academy of Art in Chicago, was mainly working as an illustrator in the 1980s, for Hallmark and then as an independent professional artist. Books, calendars, greeting cards, magazines, national posters and even postage stamps – it’s all in his artistic portfolio. 

In one of his interviews, Thomas Blackshear explains that the illustration work helped him during his 45+ years long career not to be a starving artist. And when it comes to religious subjects in art and sacred art, one of his probably most well-known paintings is “Forgiven”, which was created for the company of Christian inspirational gifts Day Spring.

“I did not know what to paint. Then I prayed and after a month God gave me this image. I saw a painting before I painted it. All I had to do is copy what I saw.” – Thomas Blackshear II

Perhaps, thanks to the technique of illustrative art, Thomas is able to convey the mood and texture of a moment in his painting. dramatic light and deep shadows also come from the illustration and obviously enrich his art. 

When it comes to religious subjects in art and sacred art, in 2006 Thomas Blackshear had a solo exhibition at the Vatican where he presented his painting of Pope John Paul II for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Pope John Paul II Foundation.

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