Sally Dillon, 69, of Amherst has been making fiber art for 30 years. For much of that time, she painted on silk. Inspired by maps, rocks and the natural beauty surrounding her, she handpainted silk fabric with dye for scarves, dresses, coats, jackets and quilts, and sold them at galleries and juried craft fairs. Six years ago, she turned her attention to making art by felting wool fleece. She uses loose dyed and natural fleece from sheep and alpaca to “paint” realistically.
Hampshire Life: What are you working on now?
Sally Dillon: Each project is a series of individual pieces that tells a story about a specific place and time. The series I am working on now depicts some of the commercial crops in the Pioneer Valley: asparagus, apples, maple sugar, butternut squash and tobacco.
H.L.: What will the viewer see?
S.D.: In addition to appreciating the beauty of each of these plants, I hope the viewer will be surprised and pleased to see how realistic felt “painting” can be.
H.L.: Does your work start with a “Eureka!” moment?
S.D.: No, I am most happy working on a challenge. Sometimes the challenge is posed by others, like my current project. The Amherst History Museum invited members of Fiber Artists of Western Massachusetts to respond to items in their collection. I chose a screen painted by Mary Loomis Todd. Sometimes I come up with the challenge myself, like depicting all the important rivers in my life. Or sometimes I am inspired by a trip or a hike. In that case I usually try to narrow the focus of the piece, first by making a specific goal rather than just being vaguely inspired by the place I have been.
H.L: How do you know you’re on the right track?
S.D.: I always have work in various stages of completion displayed around the studio. Looking at them over and over again while I work on other paintings or draw plans for the next project helps me to know if I am on the right track. Some pieces seem to flow and move easily from start to finish while others take more time, starting and stopping, tearing out, changing size or color scheme until they feel right.
H.L.: What do you do when you get stuck?
S.D.: I move on to another piece for a while then return to the difficult one later.
H.L.: How do you know when the work is done?
S.D.: This is the hardest part of making art for me. Sometimes it is done because a deadline has arrived, but usually after looking at a finished piece for several days, it just feels complete. Occasionally, I overwork an idea and have to back up to where it was “done” several days before. Or even start over.
H.L.: What did you do today that relates to your art?
S.D.: I did needle felting on three pieces, made a shopping list for art supplies I need for a class I will be teaching at Snow Farm, and sent emails about plans for the installation and reception at the Amherst History Museum. I also stained panels for mounting felt and worked on my mailing list for a postcard advertising a show.
H.L.: Are you ever going to retire?
S.D.: No. As long as I can physically make artwork, I am going to keep at it. I love taking classes and workshops to try to improve my skills and learn new techniques and I really enjoy the friendship and support of all my art making buddies.
— Kathleen Mellen
Sally Dillon will teach silk painting May 22-28 and Sept. 3-5 at Snow Farm, The New England Craft Program in Williamsburg. www.snowfarm.org.
“Artifacts Inspire,” an exhibition of the Fiber Artists of Western Massachusetts, which opened Thursday, will be on view through Sept. 25 at the Amherst Historical Society and Museum, 67 Amity St., Amherst. www.amhersthistory.org. Dillon’s website is www.sallydillon.com.