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
April 26, 2017

Self-Taught Artist Crafts Spectacular Coffee Mugs That Double as Sculptural Art

Self-taught artist Katie Marks crafts ceramic coffee mugs that transcend their practical use and double as sculptural works of art. Saying that “the world inspires her,” she adorns the vessels with layers of spectacular crystals and swirling galaxy glaze. Though her popular shop Silver Lining Ceramics, she dazzles her fans with her imagination and use of color—so it's no surprise that her work often sells out shortly after it’s listed.

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Drawing
April 22, 2017

Artistic Teen Illustrates Her Hallucinations to Cope with Schizophrenia

Art can be a lifeline for people struggling with mental health issues. After being misdiagnosed for years, Kate Fenner was officially diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 17. Now, at age 18, she has a path to move forward, which includes learning to cope with the disorder's symptoms.”I have always been an ‘artist’, I just didn’t realize what that meant until my mental illness appeared,” she writes.

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Food Art
April 21, 2017

20+ Edible Flower Cakes to Enjoy the Beautiful Sight and Taste of Real Blooms

The inherent beauty of flowers makes them an ideal choice for decorations on a cake. And just like the blossoms themselves, the approaches to adornment vary. Some bakers construct sweet buttercream florals that are extensions of icing, while other folks prefer the real thing.  But the problem? Not all flowers are edible. So, after snapping a photo of the gorgeous embellishment, you’ve got to remove all of that carefully-crafted arrangement.

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History
April 18, 2017

Frida Kahlo’s Colorful Wardrobe Finally Revealed After Being Hidden for 50 Years

Long after her death in 1954, artist Frida Kahlo continues to be a household name. Her intriguing—and now iconic—paintings and personal style have endured through the years and still inspire people today. Like her art, her clothing was full of color and had a visual richness that remains perpetually en vogue. But perhaps best of all, the objects she owned provide us insight to her life behind closed doors.

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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.