A proud Gureng Gureng\Gangalu man with maternal South Sea heritage (from Vanuatu), Blackman was born in Nambour in 1971.
With a range of practical skills and approaches to art making, Blackman generally specialises in printmaking and ceramics but also undertakes improv performance, music and painting. He has wide experience in the arts, as a musician but also as a stage manager and sound technician for cultural festivals from Woodford to Winds of Zenadth Kes festival on Thursday Island. He assisted students as studio technician at Cairns TAFE and is currently working for the senior artists at the Wik and Kugu Art Centre in Aurukun.