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.
Inspiring
February 13, 2017

African-American Model with Albinism Breaks Barriers to Expand the Definition of Beauty

Beauty can’t be confined to a single definition, and the fashion industry can only benefit from using models whose appearance more accurately represents the world at large. Diandra Forrest is one woman who is bringing much-needed change to this field. She was born to African American parents, but she has albinism—her hair is naturally blonde and her skin is milky white.

Read Article

Art
February 12, 2017

Reclaimed Gnarled Wood Branches Seamlessly Flow from Ornate Picture Frames

Artist Darryl Cox combines the rigidity of ornate framing with the beauty of gnarled tree branches. Aptly calling them Fusion Frames, the two seemingly disparate elements have both found a new life as one stunning form. The reclaimed branch (or root) appears to effortlessly grow from the repurposed, decorative frames—a visual juxtaposition that makes their seamless transition from the stiff rectangles to organic twisted limbs all the more impressive.

Read Article

Food Art
February 7, 2017

Dad Challenges Himself to Go on an Epic Day-Long Tour of Free Birthday Food

The best day to go to any restaurant is on your birthday. Thanks to your personal holiday, establishments are most likely to give you a special treat for just being you. Dad and Imugrian AnotherAnotherJosh proves this theory with his epic tour of free birthday food. On his cake day, he made a staggering 12 stops and got something free from every single one.

Read Article

Animals
February 2, 2017

Goth Chicken Is Completely Black from Its Feathers to Its Bones

To call the Ayam Cemani the world's most unique chicken is an understatement. The black chicken isn’t just dark, but it’s entirely black—down to its bones! Indigenous to Indonesia, these Goth fowls’ internal organs and muscles are also inky-colored. It's eggs, however, are a pleasant shade of cream. So, how does this occur? According Paul Bradshaw of Greenfire Farms—a noted Ayam Cemani breeder—this blackness is caused by genetics.

Read Article

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.