Erin Stoesz

About the Artist

Combining geology & art makes natural sense: Erin Stoesz is captivated by colorful patterns and textures that result from mineral grain intergrowth, variable compositional domains, and anastomosing phyllosilicates. When probing this mesmerizing beauty scientifically, the microtextures become critical to answering questions about tectonic history, rheology, and to track a rock’s evolution through changing conditions. Now a geologist, Erin Stoesz is a rock interpreter seeking to decipher and share the stories captured in the microtextures. Rocks are dynamic; beneath their seemingly unchanging hard exterior, they have histories and complexities like humans who use them as doorstops, countertops, and pocket rocks. Erin creates needle-felted pictures that bring these textures and geologic stories into personal spaces of those who enjoy rocks for aesthetics, functionality, or emotional comfort. Her geology art brings to life the rocks underfoot, on your desk, or in your pocket. To make each piece, Erin scours photomicrographs for textures that suggest flow and change. With images in mind, but never recreating, she layers roving or yarn on wool felt to capture the essence of rocks as seen microscopically. She needlefelts up-close, then inspects the piece from >10 ft away and modifies it until the rock image is equally satisfying close and at distance.

Learn More

You can learn more or purchase Erin’s artwork outside of Touchstone by calling her at 307-760-2465 or email her at estoesz@wyoming.com.