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.
DIY
January 13, 2023

How to Get Paint Out of Your Clothes, From Acrylics to Oils

If you’ve ever gotten paint on your clothes, you likely know the feeling that accompanies it. There is a wave of dread that washes over you—even more so if it’s a beloved shirt or pair of pants. With pigments like acrylic or oil paint, it might seem like they are now a permanent part of the garment. But if you get a spot on your favorite shirt, not all is lost.

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DIY
January 12, 2023

How to Customize Your Clothes Using Colorful Fabric Paints

Embellishing clothing is one of the most creative ways to personalize your outfits. Painting on a shirt, pair of pants, or even a tote bag allows you to express yourself through imagery you won’t find anywhere else. And best of all, this is an easy DIY project that you can do with minimal supplies. All you need is a garment to decorate, some paintbrushes, and fabric paint.

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Installation
January 9, 2023

Artist Makes Massive Sand Drawings That Will Eventually Be Swallowed by the Tide

For land artists, the Earth becomes a giant canvas for their incredible imagery. The French creative known as JBen uses his location on the coast of Royan as a place to produce his massive beach art. His ephemeral designs are intricate—especially considering their scale—and feature a variety of subjects. Sometimes, he carves swirls in the sand while other times the drawings are character-driven and feature the likes of Sonic the Hedgehog.

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Installation
January 5, 2023

Monumental Ceramic Coral Reef Installation Is a Swirling Combination of Beauty and Awareness

We often associate ceramic art with fragility, and artist Courtney Mattison pairs the connection with imagery of colorful coral reefs. In a monumental swirling format, the ocean advocate crafts intricate sculptures of coral featuring representations of their forms and variety of species. At the same time, she also calls attention to the crisis these organisms are in.

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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.