That little girl is Cyndi Taylor, and since that dream began in 1961, she has become an award winning artist, painting professionally since 1981. She started teaching painting in 1995 when she received her certification as a Bob Ross Landscape Instructor which, combined with majors in art and communication at the college level, has given Cyndi excellent teaching skills and a personal mastery of landscapes, still life, portraiture and wildlife. Her commissioned portraits hang in private homes and galleries across the nation, and her students travel from as far as Texas and Colorado to paint in her workshops.

Cyndi lives in the historic district of Hannibal, Missouri, and holds open studio sessions and portrait classes at the Hannibal Arts Council, The Rooster’s Crow Art Center in Hannibal, the Quincy Senior Center in Quincy, IL and Hobby Lobby’s in the tri-state area. She has been traveling and teaching portraiture since 1998 and has received numerous awards for her portraits, including several Best of Show awards. She is the recipient of the Paragon Artist Award from the Hannibal Arts Council which is presented annually to an artist in any medium and any art form who has made a special contribution to the community’s art environment. Professional affiliations include the Hannibal Arts Council, the Hannibal Art Club, the Quincy Art Council and the Quincy Art Guild.

 

Michael Gaines, Executive Director, Hannibal Arts Council & Missouri Association of Community Arts Agencies quotes, "Cyndi Taylor is a great asset to the Hannibal arts community. The Hannibal Arts Council appreciates and has utilized her creative talents for workshops, exhibits and demonstrations. Her teaching style enables and encourages students to discover the artist within them." Cyndi’s students have received many awards for paintings created under her supervision.

 

• 2000 Paragon Artist Appreciation Award from the Hannibal Arts Council, which is presented annually to an artist who has made a significant contribution to the community’s art environment.

• 2007, 2008 Best Teacher Award presented by a group of artists in the Quincy/Hannibal area.

• Acheivement Award- Best of Show, Professional Category, 2010 Hannibal Art Club, Hannibal, MO
  
  
• Best of Show, Marion County Fair, Palmyra, MO

• Best of Show, Watermelon Festival, Monroe County, KY

• Best of Show, Applefest Art Exhibit, Clarksville, MO

• Best of Category, Oil & Acrylic. City of Des Peres Festival, Des Peres, MO

• Best of Category, Unglassed Painting, Applefest Art Exhibit, Clarksville, MO

• Best of Category, Portrait, Applefest Art Exhibit, Clarksville, MO

• Emma McCorkle Memorial Award, 35^th Annual Hannibal Art Club Exhibit, Hannibal, MO

• Emma McCorkle Memorial Award, 37^th Annual Hannibal Art Club Exhibit, Hannibal, MO

• Artique Frame Palette Award, 38^th Annual Hannibal Art Club Exhibit, Hannibal, MO

• Patron Award, Riverland Artists Group, Hannibal, MO

• People’s Choice, John Wood Community College Annual Art Show, Quincy, IL

• First Place, Riverland Artists Group, Hannibal, MO

• First Place, 37^th Annual Hannibal Arts Club Exhibit, Hannibal, MO

• First Place, Watermelon Festival, Monroe County, KY

• First Place, John Wood Community College Annual Art Show, Quincy, IL

• First Place, Marion County Fair, Palmyra, MO

• First Place, 41^st Annual Hannibal Arts Club Exhibit, Hannibal, MO

• First Place, Marion County Fair, Palmyra, MO

• Numerous Second, Third and Honorable Mentions