Colorado artist created image of Mother Teresa used for postage stamp

(Aug.10,2010) The commemorative stamp of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta being issued by the U.S. Postal Service, bears a Colorado Springs postmark. The stamp was designed by acclaimed artist Thomas Blackshear II, who along with his wife, has made his home in the area for more than 16 years. The 44-cent stamp featuring the founder of the Missionaries of Charity, will go on sale Aug. 26, what would have been her 100th birthday. "Her humility and compassion, as well as her respect for the innate worth and dignity of humankind, inspired people of all ages and backgrounds, to work on behalf of the world's poorest populations," the Postal Service said in announcing the stamp last December. It also noted that Mother Teresa was named an honorary U.S. citizen in 1996.
During his long and varied career, Blackshear has designed roughly 30 stamps for the Postal Service, painting everyone from civil rights activist Rosa Parks to boxer Joe Louis. Using photographs of the late nun, Blackshear painted three different portraits of Mother Teresa and submitted them to the Postal Service's art committee.