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 History
November 14, 2025

400-Year-Old Painting on Silk Unveiled for First Time in Exhibition in Seoul

Folk paintings are one way in which a culture portrays its attitudes and beliefs. Often created by artists who lack formal training, these pieces are an important part of a society’s culture, and we can look to them as a guide to the visual language of the time in which they were produced. In Korean culture, the magpie and tiger are a pair common in traditional folk art paintings.

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Wildlife Photography
November 11, 2025

Surprising Things Learned About Foxes After 15 Years of Photographing Them

Wildlife photographer Roeselien Raimond knows a thing or two about foxes. She’s been observing and photographing the elusive creatures for more than a decade, capturing their beauty, charm, and idiosyncrasies, from how they show affection toward each other to the myriad expressions on their faces. Now, she’s compiled her fox wisdom and is sharing what she’s learned with everyone—and of course, there is fantastic fox imagery to accompany it.

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Travel
November 7, 2025

My Modern Met’s Art + Culture Guide to Seattle

Seattle, Washington, is known for many things. It’s the birthplace of two corporate behemoths—Starbucks and Amazon—and the setting for the long-running television show Grey’s Anatomy. But there’s a lot more to the Emerald City than its perceptions in popular culture. Like its Pacific Northwest (PNW) neighbor, Portland, you’ll never be bored.

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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.