Welcome to The Wonder & Light Journal
Art, gemstones, beauty, faith, and the small moments of wonder that help us see again
Welcome to The Wonder & Light Journal β a place where paintings, gemstones, color, faith, and quiet moments of beauty come together. Iβm so glad youβre here.
This journal is a gathering place for the stories behind my artwork, the hidden beauty of gemstones, reflections from the studio, notes from teaching, and the small moments of wonder that often find us in ordinary places. My hope is that it feels less like a formal blog and more like being invited into the studio for a cup of tea, a closer look, and a conversation about beauty.
For many years, I have been drawn to the way light changes everything.
On water. Across mountains. Through clouds.
Light catching the edge of a gemstone.
Light appearing in unexpected places after a difficult season.
It has become central to my work as an artist. In many of my paintings, I add a hand-applied shimmer layer β a final touch that shifts as you move around the piece. Water seems to ripple. Grasses seem to stir. A sunset may feel a little more alive. It is subtle, but meaningful. I often describe this part of my work as Shimmers of Light, because that is what Iβm always looking for: the places where beauty catches us by surprise.
But this journal is not only about paintings. Before I began sharing my artwork more publicly, I spent many years working with gemstones and jewelry. As a Graduate Gemologist, I learned to look closely at color, rarity, light, structure, and story. Gemstones are full of wonder. They carry history, mystery, and a kind of hidden poetry. A labradorite that flashes blue and green, a pearl with an unusual shape, or a stone with delicate patterns inside it can all feel like tiny landscapes of their own.
In many ways, my paintings and jewelry are connected by the same invitation: look closer.
There is beauty in the sweeping view, but there is also beauty in the smallest detail. A glimmer. A brushstroke. A pattern in stone. A wildflower in the grasses. A reflection on the water. A moment of kindness at an art booth. A child noticing something an adult almost missed.
This is part of why I chose the name The Wonder & Light Journal. Wonder has become one of the deepest threads in my creative life. I donβt think wonder is childish or frivolous. I think wonder helps us come alive again. It softens us. It restores our attention. It reminds us that the world is still full of beauty, meaning, and gifts we did not manufacture ourselves.
And light β for me β is both visual and spiritual. As a Christian artist, I often see beauty as a quiet invitation from God. Not a demand. Not a performance. An invitation. Light has a way of meeting us gently, especially in places where life has felt heavy, uncertain, or lost. I know what it is to walk through seasons of loss and rebuilding, and I also know what it is to find beauty waiting there, still shining.
My hope is that each post will help you notice something beautiful.
Thank you for being part of this unfolding journey. Whether you have collected a painting, chosen a piece of jewelry, visited a booth, taken a class, read my stories and articles, encouraged me online, prayed for us, or simply followed along from afar, I am deeply grateful.
May this become a place where beauty feels near, light feels possible, and wonder has room to land.
With gratitude,
Elizabeth Van Tassel
Elizabeth Van Tassel Studios
Treasured Gems Jewelry
