Product Details

Night In Day Unframed Canvas is a Special Limited Edition Anniversary Release."Night in Day is my breakthrough painting. I guess you could say that this was the first piece that helped me get in touch with who I'm becoming." --- Thomas Blackshear II "I wanted to create a new piece for the Society of Illustrators art show in San Francisco," says Blackshear," and Night in Day became my breakthrough. It was the first time I saw a painting in my head before I did it. I even knew the name of it. Every piece I did from that point on was different. I had a new goal, a new outlook, and a new reason for what I was doing." Night in Day represents the nighttime wrapped in daylight, but it also symbolizes any person's emergence from the darkness of doubt into the light of love and hope. Blackshear's mastery of light and dark, influenced by such illustrators of the "golden age" as Maxfield Parrish and N.C. Wyeth, creates a timeless, landmark image.

Night in Day, the painting came to Thomas after he experienced a three year depression. "I lost confidence in my art," he explains. "I was in an enviable position job wise, but there was no joy in my work. I lost 'me.' All I had left was my faith in God, and then I realized I had it all because of my faith."

Thomas prayed for inspiration for a painting to display in an upcoming art show. In 1985, Night in Day was the first work he did after his period of depression. "Christ lifted me out of depression," he says. The image of a man emerging out of darkness, into the light, testifies to this experience. Toni Morison's book, Song of Solomon, features Night in Day as the cover art.

Artist Bio

"I always knew I wanted to create Ebony Visions'. As an artist who happens to be black, I had distinct ideas about what I would like to see in the line." The elegant compeling figurines he created for the collection are a blen of both Art Nouveau and African culture, which Thomas calls "Afro-Nouveau." - Thomas Blackshear .Thomas Blackshear introduced Ebony Visions in April 1995 with the release of the first six Ebony Visions designs, The Storyteller, The Protector, The Nurturer, Siblings, Madonna and Tender Touch. Since then, Thomas Blackshear has created many new designs to add to the Ebony Visions collection. Thomas Blackshear's Ebony Visions collection is a master work of romantic symbolism. As with his paintings, these sculptures demonstrate Thomas Blackshear's incredible sense of design, unique eclectic style, and extraordinary mastery of color. Elegant drapery and delicate detail tantalize the eye while revealing each sculpted form. Thomas Blackshear's Ebony Visions depicts a full range of emotions that are both powerful and at the same time subtle. He deliberately portrays his Ebony Visions figures in a timeless setting in order to transcend a specific time, place, or culture. This unique collection of limited edition figurines emphasizes the beauty of the human form and symbolizes universal aspirations and ideals of humankind depicted through images that reflect the unique characteristics of the African American culture. For centuries classical beauty has been portrayed predominantly by white artisans who represent white subjects in their art. In this romantic and subtle tour de force, Thomas Blackshear creates a new vision of beauty and human emotion, an Ebony Vision.