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
June 8, 2017

Artist Puts a Single Red Dot in Every Tattoo to Symbolize Hope and Celebrate Change

Some tattoos are full-color masterpieces while others create striking optical illusions on the skin. But tattoo artist Mentat Gamze proves that you can have stunning modern tattoo design with a simple, minimalist approach and a bold accent color. In all of her pieces, there is a fine-line drawing completed in black ink that’s inspired by the natural world. And also within every eye-catching tattoo, there’s a red dot that accompanies it.

Read Article

History
June 3, 2017

Rarely Seen Photos of Freddie Mercury with His Long-Time Love Jim Hutton

The late singer Freddie Mercury is known for his amazing and unforgettable voice. He’s also remembered for his battle with AIDS, which he was diagnosed with in 1987 and died from complications of in 1991. Although the world lost Mercury too soon, he was not alone when he passed away. From 1985 to his death, Mercury was accompanied by his partner Jim Hutton.

Read Article

Wedding
June 2, 2017

20+ Black Wedding Cakes That Add Goth-Inspired Flair to a Special Affair

Cakes are definitely having a moment. Whether they’re masquerading as prickly cacti or dripping with sweet decadence, turning dessert into art is en vogue—not to mention delicious. The same goes for wedding cakes. Although we’ve seen some spectacular geodes and galaxy-inspired creations, dark wedding cakes are arguably the most stunning of all. Channeling your inner goth, these multi-tiered creations feature black icing and fondant that adds a dramatic flair to the special affair.

Read Article

Art
May 23, 2017

Outdated Encyclopedias Brilliantly Carved into Book Sculptures of Fantastical Lands

Artist Guy Laramée is known for his unique relationship with the humble hard-cover book. Seeing this printed matter as far more than text, he transforms the likes of large encyclopedias and dictionaries into incredible works of book art. Rather than reading material, they become sprawling mountain landscapes, grassy knolls, and icy caverns. It's as if the stories contained between their covers have leapt from the pages and materialized in tangible form.

Read Article

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.