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.
Drawing
January 1, 2018

Illustrator Tries to Make Pottery, Fails, and Turns It into a Totally Relatable Comic

Like many of us, comic artist Dami Lee was tired of staring at a screen all day. She yearned to get away from her desk and make something with her hands. After some online searching, Lee found a pottery class to try—and what follows next is a roller coaster of emotions, from thinking she'll open an Etsy shop with her new found skills to utter disappointment that it'll never happen.

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Resources
December 26, 2017

6 Powerful Design Resources Offering Hundreds of Tutorials for All Skill Levels

One of the best things about the internet is the vast amounts of knowledge available at your fingertips. You can be a complete novice in a subject, but thanks to e-learning sites and YouTube, you can gain a real understanding of practically anything. For instance, we’ve written about free photo courses and YouTube videos where you can learn to paint at your own pace.

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Drawing
December 20, 2017

Artist Overhears Ridiculous Conversations, Turns Them Into Funny Illustrations

People say the darnedest things when they think they’re having a private chat. But for those that overhear these bits and pieces of random conversations, the exchanges can be cringe-worthy, juicy, or even downright hilarious. Dreamworks Animation artist Avner Geller visually chronicles these moments in his aptly-titled series, #ThingsThatIHear. The funny illustrations include what he heard as well as colorful scenes that correspond to the content of the overheard conversations.

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Drawing
December 15, 2017

Illustrator Shows What Love Looks Like, Whether You’re in a Relationship or Not

Love is not one-size-fits-all. Despite what books and movies might show, it's about more than just grand gestures; this certain fondness doesn't even have to involve another person. More often, a demonstration of love is a collection of the mundane moments of everyday life where tenderness often hides but grows strong. Amanda Oleander creates unconventional illustrated love stories that prove this. Oleander often depicts couples in their home who are fully relaxed in one another’s company.

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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.