Posts by Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
Drawing
October 29, 2018

Disney Princesses Get an Edgy Twist Reimagined as Noir-Inspired Femme Fatales

Artist Ástor Alexander reimagines some of our favorite Disney royalty with an edgy twist. His series titled Noir Princesses features the beloved characters portrayed as private eyes and femme fatales. In doing so, the digital portraits offer an alternative perspective on the characters we know and love. Alexander's use of a dark color palette with a nod to vintage film noir posters suggests that there's evil lurking beneath their beauty.

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Painting
October 15, 2018

Amazing Painting Reimagines All the Planets in Perfect Alignment Along Their Curve

Artist Steve Gildea imagines what it’d look like if the planets were all perfectly aligned. Through his Planetary Suite series, he matches the curved edges of nine celestial bodies (including Pluto) to create one eye-pleasing form. With Gildea’s attention to detail and tight rendering, it’s natural to assume that this is the work of astrophotography. They are, however, oil paintings arranged as a polyptych.

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Drawing Guide
October 1, 2018

Learn How to Draw Human Hands With This “Handy” Step by Step Guide

Drawing human anatomy is tricky. One of the most challenging parts of the body are the hands—especially when you’re sketching them in a realistic manner. As with all things in art, practice builds skills and confidence—which is just one reason why you should learn how to draw hands. They are undoubtedly a challenge, but when you can make them look so life-like that they’re popping off the page, it’s sure to boost your creative confidence.

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Design
September 28, 2018

Ceramicist Carves into Pottery to Reveal Unexpected Layers of Color Underneath

Artist Sean Forest Roberts brings an experimental attitude to his ceramic practice. Working under the name Forest Ceramic Company, the Washington-based creative uses his background in chemistry and four years in science labs to explore new ways to develop surface patterns and porcelain forms. His current work features marbling designs and carved ceramics—a practice that has gained him attention around the world. Roberts regularly shares peeks into his production process.

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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.