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.
Academy
August 11, 2026

Get the Best of Both Art Worlds When You Learn How To Create “Abstract Realism”

Realism and abstraction are often viewed as opposing styles. But when blended, they can create alluring artwork that pulls us into reality while allowing our minds to imagine what can be the way only art can do. Learn how to combine the two approaches with the help of artist Dimitra Milan. Using her signature technique of “abstract realism,” she incorporates the strengths of each to create a single cohesive piece.

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Art
August 6, 2026

Seattle Celebrates Jimothy, Its Favorite Round Raccoon, With an Epic Art Contest

It’s still Jimothy summer in Seattle. The short-spined raccoon has captured the hearts and minds of people in the Emerald City—and well beyond. One way folks are rooting for the local legend is by creating incredible art inspired by his unusually round body and overall good vibe. But Seattle is taking it even farther; the city made an official proclamation of “Jimothy Summer” and held an accompanying art contest to celebrate.

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Art
August 5, 2026

Corey Helford Gallery Celebrates 20 Years of Championing New Contemporary Art With a 2-Part Show

The Los Angeles-based Corey Helford Gallery (CHG) has reached a milestone, and now it’s time to celebrate. It’s marking its 20th anniversary, and doing so with a two-part gallery show. Aptly titled the 20th Anniversary Group Show, this special exhibition brings together artists who have helped define the gallery’s legacy over the past 20 years, transforming a project known only in LA into a globally recognized name that has shaped the New Contemporary Art genre.

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Wildlife Photography
August 4, 2026

New Book Celebrates the ‘American Amazon,’ and Its Rich Biodiversity in the Southeastern U.S.

In the United States, there is an area of the country that is so biologically rich that it’s referred to as the American Amazon. It’s located in the southeastern part of the country, spanning the Mobile Bay Basin in Alabama to the Everglades in Florida. Here, there’s an incredible number of flora and fauna species that grace the forests and wetlands, and for decades, photographer Mac Stone has been documenting the varied and changing landscape.

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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.