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.
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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Social Cause
December 13, 2017

Artist Brilliantly Illustrates Different Mental Disorders Using Only Paper Clips

In 2013, Project Semicolon began to take the world by storm in a global movement to support those who struggle with self-harm, addiction, and suicidal thoughts. The initiative spawned, among other things, tattoos of semicolons as a symbol of “not the end, but a new beginning.” Inspired by this call-to-action, graphic designer Eisen Bernardo created his own twist on the social campaign.

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Science
December 7, 2017

Science Experiment Shows How 25,000 Random Dice Neatly Assemble into Perfect Circles

It turns out that dice, like martinis, prefer to be shaken, not stirred. Scientists in Spain recently proved this with a cool physics experiment in which 25,000 miniature dice (measuring half a centimeter in size) were placed in a large plastic cylinder. After “sufficient vigorously twisting” the vessel of randomly-oriented dice, the result was a perfectly-ordered arrangement. So, how does this experiment work?

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Painting
December 6, 2017

Artist Skillfully Details Paintings to Look Like Real Ornate Rugs

If you hadn’t seen artist Jason Seife painting these intricate designs himself, you'd think they were actually rugs. Using an impossibly small brush and acrylic paint, the Miami-based creative depicts the elaborate details you’d normally find on Persian rugs. From floral motifs to fancy flourishes, Seife puts his own spin on these familiar patterned tapestries by incorporating hues that aren’t typically seen in the large floor coverings. Seife’s attention to his craft is beyond impressive.

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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.