Jackie Truty began creating in glass as a hobby while working as an Operating Room Nurse. When she finally settled on fusing glass for jewelry full time in 1998, she began studying the mechanics of the unique, dichroic glass, researching its beginnings and ultimately writing a book, “Dichroics: Art Glass All Dressed Up,” published in 2002 by Glass Press.  Beginning to focus on small dichroic cabochons for jewelry, she added wire wrapping and lapidary arts to her skills as she searched for the perfect outlet for her creative expression.

In 2000, Jackie saw a demonstration of Art Clay Silver in Las Vegas and has never looked back. In the fall of 2000 she became certified in Level 1 and then as a Senior Level Art Clay Instructor.  In 2001 she accepted the position of Director of Education for Art Clay USA. In November of 2001, she then acquired the rights as North American distributor of Art Clay products in January of 2002. Her books, “Art Clay Silver and Gold: 18 Projects to Make in One Day,” and "Metal Clay: The Complete Guide," 2005, have been sold internationally in English and French. She has taught in places as varied as Japan, Milan, and Johannesburg, as well as throughout the United States and Canada.  In 2013 Jackie also received her Graduate Gemologist degree from GIA.

 Jackie’s passion continues to be teaching metal clay. Her daughter, Katie Baum, has taken over the day-to-day running of Art Clay World, USA, as Jackie pulls back into semi-retirement, continuing to teach at William Holland lapidary school, in Young Harris, Georgia. She is active in the Alliance for Metal Clay Arts Worldwide (AMCAW). Her mission remains to empower women through metal clay’s use and she is determined to provide an opportunity for women to establish a place for themselves in the high-end jewelry art arena with a minimum investment and a maximum return both financially and creatively.