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.
Travel
December 18, 2025

This “Cool” Bar Is Like Drinking Inside a Giant Block of Arctic Ice

There are a lot of inventive and innovative bar concepts out there, but none are as cool as ICEBAR. As the name suggests, this watering hole integrates ice into every aspect of its being. The crystal clear cubes that would typically be floating in your drink are now the vessels from which you sip. Beyond your beverage, the walls are ice, and artwork made of ice adorns the space.

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Academy
December 16, 2025

Deepen Your Understanding of Art With These Pairs of Online Creative Courses

There’s one prevailing truth about art: you never stop learning. No matter your expertise, there’s always more to discover. My Modern Met Academy, our e-learning platform, was designed to help you unleash your creativity and foster new skills. And to further this mission, we’ve got some courses that have a natural “part two” to them. Taught by the same instructor, these pairs of classes will deepen your understanding of a subject matter or approach.

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Acrylic Painting
December 11, 2025

Lavishly Patterned Paintings Combine Western and Eastern Cultures [Interview]

Take your time when viewing the paintings by Naomi Okubo. The intricate, layered works are awash in patterns upon patterns, often cloaking the figures within them. Taking place indoors, outdoors, and spaces in between, the pieces draw from realism while not shying away from elements that border on the surreal. Within a grassy field, for instance, is a portal—a looking glass—into another place.

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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.