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.
Photo Contest
April 20, 2026

2026 Sony World Photography Awards Reveals Incredible Winners of the Professional Competition

The Sony World Photography Awards has announced its 2026 overall winners, and the creative possibilities within the field are on full display. The lauded images include portraiture, landscapes, and compositions that blur the line between photography and fine art. Among the winning photographs emerges the prestigious Photographer of the Year award. In 2026—the 19th edition of the competition—Citlali Fabián won for her series Bilha, Stories of my Sisters.

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Art
April 17, 2026

Artist Uses AI To Reimagine His Older Work as the Ingredients for a New Series of Animal Art

Artist Jim Naughten finds animals more interesting than people. It’s not for lack of trying; throughout his creative life, he’s studied a wide range of topics. “My work has been inspired by books and childhood interests,” Naughten tells My Modern Met, “particularly historical subject matter, ranging from WWII military re-enactors through to Namibian tribes in Victorian costume.

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Academy
April 14, 2026

This Class Teaches You How To Paint Realistic Flowers in Watercolor (Even if You Think You Can’t)

With springtime flowers in full bloom, it’s hard not to be inspired by the blossoming daisies, tulips, and so much more. If you’ve ever looked at a flower and wished you could paint it, you’re not alone. Painting blooms is a great way to celebrate nature’s beauty. But where do you start? If putting pigment on paper seems like an impossible feat, it’s not.

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Astronomy
April 7, 2026

Marvel at NASA’s Artemis II Mission Launch by Watching It in Extreme Slow Motion

On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 6:35 p.m., the world watched as the Orion spacecraft began its launch. As part of NASA’s historic Artemis II mission, the ship carrying four astronauts was a feat of engineering and a celebration of the boundless curiosity of the human spirit. While many came to witness the launch at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, no one got as close to the action as National Geographic did.

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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.