Tiger & Tiger Eyes

These two gymnasium murals were painted at Hollister High School in Hollister, Missouri as a fast-moving, high-pressure project completed just before a major game. I worked on both murals as part of Andrea Ehrhardt’s crew, helping bring the school’s tiger mascot to life at a scale that could match the energy of the space and the pride of the team.

During the project, while we were projecting the full tiger image for the larger mural, the principal asked for it to be made even bigger. That decision pushed the mural to a new scale and required a last-minute request for a taller lift, since the one already on site could no longer reach the height we needed. We kept both lifts in use and also painted from the top of the folded-in bleachers to keep the timeline moving.

This project’s pace was truly rushed and required adaptability, with every adjustment met in real time. Between projection, scaling, equipment changes, and the pressure of finishing before the next big game, the work became a lesson in teamwork, flexibility, and execution under pressure. Projects like this remind me that mural work often asks for far more than painting alone — it asks for problem-solving, quick communication, and the ability to rise to the wall the way the wall rises to meet you.

Tiger Eyes

Tiger Eyes was the first of the two murals completed in the gym. Stretched across the wall in a wide horizontal format, it focused on the intensity of the tiger’s gaze, giving the space an immediate sense of energy and presence. As the first part of the pair, it helped establish the visual tone for the gym while building momentum for the larger tiger mural that followed.

Painted with:
Andrea Ehrhardt / @artbyandreaehrhardt
Jeremiah Gill / @jeremiahjgill

Tiger

Tiger was the second and larger of the two gym murals, painted as the main focal wall of the project. After the principal requested that the design be enlarged during projection, the mural grew to an even more commanding scale, pushing both the equipment needs and the pace of the install. The final result gave the gym a bold mascot presence designed to heighten school pride and meet the excitement of the game just ahead.

Painted with:
Andrea Ehrhardt / @artbyandreaehrhardt
Marhleeny / @marhleeny
Jeremiah Gill / @jeremiahjgill

What stayed with me from this project was how quickly a mural can become part of the emotional life of a space. These were not just tiger images on gym walls — they were built to raise the energy of the room, amplify school pride, and meet the moment with the same intensity the students and athletes were bringing to the game ahead.

Title: Hollister High School Mascot
Tiger Eyes (10' h x 56' w) 
Tiger (30' h x 38' w)
Site/City: Hollister High School, Hollister, Missouri 
Medium: interior latex paint. 
Materials: Interior latex, brushes and spray gun. Date: February 24-26, 2023