Joan Nix watches as one of the art association member’s encaustic paintings is set on fire to finish the creative process.

Provided by Alice Liles/Muleshoe Art Association

The Muleshoe Art Association traveled to Sudan Tuesday, March 1^st, for their monthly meeting and a participatory art lesson led by Joan Nix, artist and owner in charge of Joan of Art located on Main Street in Sudan. Eleven members were present.

President Ann Johnson called the meeting to order. Secretary Alice Liles called roll and read the minutes. Dianne Brown motioned to accept the minutes, and the motion carried. Treasurer Misti Prater gave a detailed report on the treasury activity. Sandi Chitwood motioned to accept the report, Melba Bratcher seconded, and the motion passed.

Refreshments chairperson Melba Bratcher reported that today’s goodies were provided by Sandra, Melba, and hostess Joan Nix. Melba also gave an update on refreshments for the upcoming art show.

President Johnson updated members on watercolor classes to be given in Muleshoe by artist Jon Birdsong from Portales. More information will be forthcoming.

Information about the upcoming spring art show was given by Sandra Chancey. The judge will be Carolyn Lindsey from New Mexico. Fliers have been mailed to previous entrants and local art groups and registration forms will be mailed March 2^nd. Entries will be accepted April 4^th; judging will be done April 5^th; awards reception and end of the show will be April 8^th.

The door prize, provided by Melba Bratcher, was won by Shirley White. Sandi Chitwood then made the motion to adjourn, Dianne Brown seconded, and the motion passed.

Joan Nix, artist and owner of Joan of Art in Sudan, presented the program on encaustic painting. The word encaustic means sealed with wax and goes back to Greco-Roman times. The wax mixture Joan had for us to use consisted of melted Damar Resin tree sap crystals, bee’s wax, and color for the images provided by oil pastel crayons and regular crayons. We drew our images on gesso-covered boards and then painted the boards with a layer of the wax mixture. After letting it set for a minute, the fun part was to spray a light coating of shellac on the image and then set it on fire to blend everything together!

Joan of Art has been at this location on Main Street in Sudan since 2004, and Joan teaches myriad methods of creating art in the studio on week-day afternoons. For more information, call 806-227-2092, leave a message, and she will return your call.

Members present included Ann Johnson, Kay Hohs, Sandi Chitwood, Misti Prater, Melba Bratcher, Shirley White, Dianne Brown, Mike Jones, Alice Liles, Sandra Chancey, and new member Ruth Hall.

Call Sandra at 806-946-9221 or Ann Johnson at 806-272-5914 for more information on the art show coming in April.