Some artists find their metier through creative exploration; others know what they want to do right from the start. Such was the case for Buckhead resident Isobel Mills Prescott, whose path towards textile art was dotted with curiosity and discipline. After completing a degree in fabric design at the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia, she discovered a deep connection to fabrics that echoed earlier experimentation with ceramic arts; both had a malleability she was drawn to.
Inspiration
Mills Prescott, like most artists, is inspired by the world around her. “I’ll see something that inspires me, and I’ll bring my interpretation to it, translating it into fabric, bringing it to life through texture and color,” she says. Being able to use her hands and manipulate the materials is a big draw for her, and she uses many different techniques to accomplish a piece. For example, her threaded landscapes are built up of color-blocked patches, which she then blends through with more stitching. In her “Picasso’s Sculpture Garden,” depth is achieved through appliqué techniques like pleats and ruffles. She’s even used French knots to mimic a chameleon’s leathery skin. “They’re essentially 3D paintings,” she says.
Creating a piece takes time, attention, and discipline. On average, her pieces take about 100 plus hours, which includes an extensive planning process. While the pieces appear organic and whimsical, the foundation required to pull them off is not. “I use Photoshop and play around with string placement or colored dots,” she says, noting that it’s really not feasible for her to mess up once fabric has been laid down. “Once I get in a mode, however, I can flow into color placement. But the beginning is very thought out.”
The Artists’ marketplace
Mills Prescott mostly sells her fiber art on her website and Instagram, where she highlights pieces as they progress—and she’s often able to sell a piece before it’s completed. For those not in the art market, there is a way to get a piece of her creativity: through her eponymous product line.
She founded her fabric and wallpaper line, Isobel, in 2018 as an extension of her design philosophy and as a way to bring more color and pattern into people’s homes. There are over 90 cotton and linen fabrics, as well as painterly wallpaper inspired by a trip to Morocco, which can be seen in person at Travis & Company at Atlanta Decorative Arts Center.
Creative evolution
Her earlier fabrics tend to be a bit more subdued, but her most recent ones are fully realized as she’s become more comfortable. “As time has gone on, I’ve gotten more bold in my color choices for the lines,” she says. “I started more conservatively because I thought people were afraid of color, and I didn’t want it to feel unapproachable.” Now, she says she has more confidence and can use her design voice to create saturated and striking prints, such as her Leo fabric, which is available in deep colors like Lagoon, Matcha, Wisteria, and Honey.
She’s also been having more fun with small goods, experimenting with more portable and playful products. In the past, she’s produced cover-ups and pajamas, and she currently offers packing cubes, mahjong tile bags, and shoe bags adorned with her sunny prints and fun contrasting zippers. “They are a fun way for me to showcase my patterns in even more bold colors,” she says. These can be purchased directly from her or at the occasional Buckhead pop-up.
