Finding her canvas: Tiffany Sherman’s journey from classroom murals to community art
Standing in front of her latest creation — a bold black bear mural splashed with vibrant color on the side of Bruin Bowling Lanes — Tiffany Sherman, 43, can’t help but smile.
For Sherman, each brushstroke is more than paint — it’s a reflection of a journey that began in a high school art class and continues to shape her life, her community and her dreams.
Sherman’s introduction to large-scale art came unexpectedly during her last semester at Karns City High School.
“It all started with a glaring yellow wall in a biology classroom,” she recalled with a laugh. “Mrs. Malarkey wanted something beautiful — a giant jungle mural — and she trusted my budding artistic talent. After we got the district’s permission, I rounded up fellow art students and we conquered that yellow wall with paint.”
Even before her first mural project, Sherman said it was her teachers who gave her the courage to pursue art. She went on to do 11 murals in her high school.
“That was it — I was hooked. I realized I had a passion for creating on a larger scale,” Sherman said.
“There were definitely jitters on my parents’ part when it came to me going to college for art,” she said. “But my teachers were the driving factor that gave me the push to go for it, to commit to the journey. Lesley Malarkey, Carol Berteotti, Patricia Bell, so many others — they saw my potential and believed in me. Made me believe.”
That belief carried her to Butler County Community College, where she built her foundation, before transferring to Edinboro University to earn her degrees in graphic design and drawing. Along the way, she was awarded scholarships, including a full-tuition Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society scholarship that helped her achieve her dream without overwhelming financial burdens.
“It ended up being the best pathway to obtaining my art degrees,” she said.
Today, Sherman balances her role as a graphic designer at Keystone Specialties Inc. in Butler with her passion for painting. Murals remain her true calling, allowing her to inspire others in the same way she was inspired.
“There’s something about entirely changing a space with large-scale art that brings joy to me,” she said. “Especially when it’s in a location where children can view it. When I was little, I walked the school halls and saw older students’ artwork on display. It put a yearning in my heart. I wanted to create art like the ‘big kids.’ My hope is that students walking past my murals feel that same spark.”
The Bruin Bowling Center mural, commissioned by the Pennington family, is her largest public project yet. For the Pennington Family, who purchased the Center in 2011, the mural is more than decoration — it’s a symbol of renewal.
“The center was built in the early 1950s, so in the last several years we have worked tirelessly to upgrade and give the community a place to feel welcome,” Melissa Pennington said. “When the suggestions for a mural came in, I knew Tiffany was the one to trust. She has truly poured her heart and soul into this project.”
The result is a mural both fierce and inviting — a black bear that has captured the community’s attention.
“Not everyone goes to galleries, but everyone passes a wall, especially this wall,” Sherman said. “It’s like the entire community is on ‘Bowling Alley Bear Watch, 2025.’”
Sherman’s bond with her hometown has always been strong.
“I entirely never left Bruin,” she said. “Sure, I moved up to Edinboro for three years, but I came home every weekend. My family was here, my fiancé. One Christmas break, I spent most of my time in the Bruin Elementary gym painting a huge eagle and the Statue of Liberty. In my artistic way, I have given back to our little town. The elementary murals are well-known, but they’re not as visible as the Bruin Bowling Lanes bear murals.”
Her education also gave her the freedom to explore different creative outlets — from painting and drawing to graphic design and even sculpting realistic cat trees. “I consider it a blessing to have a daily creative job,” Sherman said of her work at Keystone.
Looking ahead, she welcomes any opportunity that allows her to share her creativity. One dream stands out: “Should the Karns City School District ever build a new school, it’d be an honor to be invited back as an alumna to put up fresh murals for the next generation of students,” she said.
From the walls of a high school biology class to the exterior of a local bowling alley, Sherman’s art has left an indelible mark — proof that passion, guided by mentors and grounded in persistence, can ripple outward.
