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
October 8, 2015

Giant Coloring Canvases Create a Unique Group Activity for Adults

The adult coloring craze is more than just beautifully-drawn books. Thanks to Fancy Features, this fun activity is something that many people can complete together on a much larger scale. Artists Maria Leyden and Chris Mason create giant colorless pictures that are then embellished using a vibrant set of community markers. Once the piece is entirely inked, the canvas becomes something for everyone to admire, and it serves as a unique keepsake for the event.

Read Article

Art
October 1, 2015

15 Couples’ Matching Wedding Tattoos Visually Honoring Their Marriage Vows

Marriage is said to be “till death do us part,” and some couples have chosen to honor this vow with something equally as permanent—beautiful ink. Wedding tattoos have become increasingly common, and couples are eager to show off their matching work. Some choose designs that are literal interpretations of their big day, with tattoos of church bells, a date, or a portrait.

Read Article

Art
September 23, 2015

Clever Illustrations Unmask the "True" Identities of Pop Culture Icons

In his amusing series titled Icons Unmasked, Chicago-based illustrator Alex Solis reveals the surprising identities of famous characters in pop culture. These cartoon-style portraits feature a series of costumed figures who unmask themselves, exposing who really lurks beneath the facade. The alter ego is often an unexpected character, as the two don't exist in the same universe: Tweety Bird is actually Big Bird; Grumpy Cat is Garfield; and Peter Griffin is a donut-obsessed Homer Simpson.

Read Article

Art
September 17, 2015

Artist’s Gorgeous Mural on Sunken Ship Changes with Tide Levels

Last spring, we marveled over artist Sean Yoro (aka Hula) and his gorgeous seaside murals that were painted while he was on a paddle board. Now, he's recently completed another stunning painting using the same unconventional practice. Hula found an old sunken ship off the coast of Hawaii and transformed the rusty vessel into an aquatic art gallery with his piece titled Ho'i Mai (translation: Come Back).

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.