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.
Art
May 20, 2025

Prolific Art Collector Invites All People to the Contemporary Art World Through Instagram [Interview]

You might know Steve Wilson by his glasses. The art collector and entrepreneur dons bright red eyewear, a constant on his popular Instagram account, as he shares illuminating interviews with contemporary artists, including Bisa Butler and Hank Willis Thomas. Within each vignette, Wilson is in the artist’s studio, at an exhibition, or purchasing original art at fairs like Art Basel Miami.

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DIY
May 16, 2025

Learn How To Make Your Own Pigments With These DIY Paint Recipes

Did you know you can create your own paint pigment? It's true! And better yet, the DIY version is easier and more accessible than you might think. Using some special (and not-so-special) materials, you can produce pigments to your exact specifications. This gives you ultimate control over viscosity and allows you to experiment with hues to create unique color palettes. But, where do you start?

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Wildlife Photography
May 15, 2025

Wildlife Photographer Captures Mid-Air Battle of Two Birds Fighting for Dinner

The natural world is full of epic bouts that make for equally epic photographs. But to do that, it involves luck, timing, and patience on the part of the photographer. Henrik Nilsson recently captured incredible action shots of a marsh hawk (aka northern harrier) stealing a meal from a short-eared owl in mid-air. The crisp, dynamic images are simultaneously a look at nature's beauty and its ferociousness.

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Good News
May 8, 2025

Robert De Niro Shares Love and Support for Daughter After She Comes Out as Trans

Actor Robert De Niro is showing what unconditional love for your child looks like. His 29-year-old daughter Airyn De Niro recently came out as trans in an interview with Them, an outlet that shares “what it means to be LGBTQ+ today—and tomorrow.” De Niro publicly supports his daughter, a welcome thing to see in a cultural and political climate in which the health and well-being of trans people are continually under attack.

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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.