Posts by Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled "Embroidered Life" that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
Gift Guide
October 20, 2024

45 Fun and Creative Gifts for the Artist in Your Life

Whether you’re gearing up for a holiday, birthday, or just the everyday, it’s always a good idea to have gifts in mind for the artist in your life. There are a ton of items out there that are sure to inspire your favorite creative person, so how do you choose the best gift? Luckily, the search is over. We’ve found some great gifts for artists that'll spark their inspiration—no matter the season.

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Art History
July 15, 2024

2,000+ Years of Dogs in Art, From Ancient Mosaics to Instagram Selfies

Our four-legged friends are often the muses for art of all kinds. Of these creatures, dogs are one of the most popular subjects for painting, sculpture, and photography. Throughout art history, they’ve made appearances with members of the aristocracy, self-portraits with famous creatives, and been immortalized as balloons—and that’s just a small fraction of the dog art that exists between the past and today.

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Creative Products
June 20, 2024

15 LGBTQ+ Makers on Etsy Crafting Creative Products During Pride Month and Beyond

June is Pride Month. Now, more than ever, it's important to keep LBGTQIA+ issues at the forefront and let your Pride flag fly. Pride is about affirming the identities and increasing the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people—those who have been marginalized and told that who they are doesn’t matter. Making art can be therapeutic as well as productive, and there are many creatives who express themselves in doing so.

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Art Supplies
May 8, 2024

13 Best Colored Pencil Sets for Coloring Book Enthusiasts and Professional Artists

Colored pencils are often associated with childhood, but with the adult coloring book craze, it's clear that grown-ups like to use them, too. These tools, however, can do much more than color inside lines. Artists regularly use colored pencils in their drawings because they offer a range of possibilities—especially in their hues. While many professional sets include a bevy of beautiful colors, you can layer them to create even more dimension in your work.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.