JOEY MAKE VERT VID
A creative at heart, Elizabeth Van Tassel is a GIA Graduate Gemologist, children’s book author, founder of Treasured Gems Jewelry and her own fine art and design studio. Through her work, Elizabeth helps others discover the artistry woven into life itself—celebrating milestones, finding joy, and embracing hope through meaningful creations and stories.
Blending beauty, meaning, and storytelling, her work includes fine art and jewelry, as well as inspiring tales of resilience and imagination. Whether creating landscapes that transport viewers to serene worlds, crafting wearable art, or capturing wonder in her writing, Elizabeth’s vision is rooted in possibility and faith.
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Elizabeth’s artistic roots trace to her high school years in California, where she studied under artists Ute Goggins and Dawn Valerio. Learning drawing, painting, ceramics, and plein air techniques, she developed a love for capturing the fleeting beauty of nature and everyday life. She also took a deep interest in rocks, minerals, and gemstones studying geology at length.
Her education continued at Baylor University, where she majored in Journalism, Public Relations, and English. While there she also refined her skills in sketching, charcoals, and plein air work under mentors John McClanahan and Karl Umlauf.
While having two careers in corporate marketing and public relations and later in the jewelry industry, Elizabeth continued painting and creating. Her passion for blending art and history deepened during docent training at the historic Filoli Estate and through coursework about decorative arts at the Dallas Museum of Art, UC Santa Cruz, and the DeYoung/Legion of Honor Museums in San Francisco. This enriched her understanding of art restoration, architecture, historic furnishings, and decorative arts, all of which influence her meticulous approach to design.
As a certified Graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Elizabeth brings an expert eye to the jewelry she showcases and creates. Her background in diamond grading, colored stone identification, and advanced gemstone evaluation, helps ensure every piece carries high standards of craftsmanship, whether for an elevated everyday look or a special occasion. Of note, her dedication to excellence at GIA earned her head-of-class status in her graduating class. In 2024, through the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers using advanced gemological vision testing, she achieved the highest rank of Superior Color Grading Category, regarding color hue detection. This rare ability for color appreciation informs everything she creates or writes, with vivid scenery, complementary jewelry, and a modern take on impressionist style in her art. To see the Treasured Gems jewelry store, click below.
Elizabeth Van Tassel ©️ 2025