John started his career at the Metropolitan Opera in 1969, as a scenic artist, and then spent seven years as a set designer for Sesame Street.

He left the bright lights of New York in 1994 for Vermont to focus on floorcloths, which can now be found everywhere from Mount Vernon to the dining room of the White House.

For John, floorcloths were the perfect opportunity to combine his artistic talents with his love for researching historic design. Having also been an antiques dealer in New York for eight years, John enjoys the historical significance of floorcloths. He has traveled from Colonial Williamsburg to view Englishman John Carwitham's floorcloth book from 1740 to The Society of the Preservation of New England Antiquities warehouses to photograph their extensive collection of 19th century floorcloths

After moving to West Pawlet, Vermont, John began faux painting on furniture crafted by William Laberge of Dorset, Vermont. They have collaborated on a number of pieces, focusing on screens and tabletops

Excerpt from "Local artist Sherman Featured in magazine", The Free Press, Manchester Center, VT

"Fancypainter to me conjures up a painter of several to many skills. Having an 18th or 19th century sound, it describes a person who has many brush and design skills, sign-painting, coach- painting, murals, etc., much like my required skills to be a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829 in NYC. That union required six weeks of examination in the theatre design, costuming, lighting and painting of theatre sets. This enabled me to work anywhere in the theatre, motion picture, and television industry. You had to daily be prepared to do anything, paint scenery, sign-painting, graphics, a ‘jack-of-many trades’.

A life-long collector, dealer and lover of antiques, has lead me to researching and adapting period designs for much of my work, from ‘authentic’ to ‘inspired by’. The 18th Century English designer and publisher John Carwhitham, 1739, ‘Various Kinds of Floor Decorations’, led me to Colonial Williamsburg’s Library to actually handle this rare book. His patterns inspire many of the floorcloths I paint, authentic enough to reside with the most expensive and beautiful of Colonial Furniture. I seek to have my painting skills match those of the great American furniture makers. Phyfe, Seymour, and Goddard and Townsend.

Lately, collaborating with master Vermont furniture maker William Laberge, I have been gone 360 degrees into Arts and Crafts inspired pieces, table, screens and all. Frequently I am using digital photographs I’ve taken to create real place vistas and designs on screens. This also enables me to work with other people’s sources, photos, fabrics, ceramics, etc."

-- John Sherman, January, 2005