The 2024 Summit schedule includes two special events – an Artist Spotlight and an Artist Retrospective. Today’s article is focused on the Artist Retrospective session.
JOIN US ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 11TH FOR THE ARTIST RETROSPECTIVE ON TORY HUGHES, HOSTED BY DEBBIE JACKSON AND CYNDE TAGG.
Click here to register
My mother used to say the phrase, “Give me flowers while I’m living.” I’m finding myself making attempts to do it more than ever during this phase of my life. It doesn’t mean to literally give someone flowers, but merely to value a person, help them feel connected, acknowledged, not take them for granted, and express some gratitude for their existence.
The Polymer Art Summit presents an occasion for me to express my appreciation to those who have helped make an impact in our community. We acknowledged Nan Roche in the past, who wrote ‘The New Clay’, which I call ‘the Bible of all polymer books’ which was so far ahead of its time!
Although it’s too late to give her flowers now, I’d like to posthumously lift up the name of Victoria (Tory) Hughes, and respectfully give her some recognition today for much that she has done.
The Columbus, Ohio Polymer Clay Guild hosted a 2-day workshop in April of 2010. Tory is explaining one of her signature techniques of Imitative Turquoise. 
Our Guild was SO excited to have Tory visiting with us and I just had to take a picture with her! Her teaching style and voice was so calming and soothing. It was a great workshop!
When I first started working with polymer clay over 30 years ago, I was fascinated with Tory Hughes’ body of work. I could totally relate to her tribal aesthetic and style, so kept my eyes on her throughout her entire journey. She was first polymer artist (that I knew of) who developed the many imitative techniques that we admire today. When I saw her invaluable videos of making Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli, Jade, Coral, Amber, Ivory and Agate, I was totally mesmerized! I thought she was a genius and ended up calling her my ‘guru’ per se! I still use some of these techniques in my work today.
There’s much more that I can say, but for now, we’ll be giving her a tribute of gratitude and thanks for 2024. ❤️❤️❤️
With love from Debbie Jackson,
Founder of the Polymer Art Summit
After Tory’s fabulous workshop, she offered private one-on-one sessions the following day, and I was one of the first to schedule her! The session was related to finding our ‘voice’ on our creative journey. I remember the weather was cloudy and rainy that day. When she arrived, she stopped and stood in my doorway, taking a panoramic visual of my tribal living room decor with African masks, art work, textiles and earth tone colors. I felt that helped her set the pace of the direction of the topic we were to discuss that afternoon. It was such a joy to have her visiting my home! My sister Deedee had come to town to take her class. We were both fanning out! I asked Deedee to take some pictures of this memorable event. Tory even asked to model MY jewelry for the photoshoot! What a treat this was!