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.
Art
June 23, 2023

5 Free Online Pixel Art Makers That Will Help You Create 8-Bit Masterpieces

The options for digital art are endless. As technology advances, there are seemingly no limitations. You can pick and choose your tools—and, most importantly, what you'd like to create. Some folks, for instance, love a retro aesthetic. In that case, pixel art is appealing. If you love the blockiness in this type of art, then it’s time to give it a try. It’s now easier than ever with online pixel art makers.

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Academy
June 21, 2023

Learn How to Draw Your Favorite People in This Beginner-Friendly Online Class

There are some types of art that feel impossible to do, and portrait drawing is certainly one of them. The subject matter requires you to consider a lot of factors, from facial expressions to anatomical proportions. Plus, everything has to work together to capture a person's likeness. If you’ve always wanted to draw your favorite people (or your self-portrait), get a crash course in it with the help of illustrator Melissa de Nobrega.

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Wildlife Photography
June 19, 2023

Photographer Wears a Puffin Decoy To Blend in With the Real Birds

There’s the old saying that if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Photographer Martin Yelland incorporated this idea in capturing images of wildlife, and it was as amusing as it was successful. While on a snorkeling trip at Skomer Island off the coast of West Wales, he donned a decoy puffin on his head while approaching the real birds swimming nearby—and it worked!

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Crafts
June 14, 2023

Learn How To Turn Summer Flowers Into Pressed Art in This Online Class

One of the many joys of warmer weather is that the flowers are back in bloom. (Finally!) Whether you’re cutting them from your garden or picking them up at the farmer’s market, the colorful beauty of blossoms is always welcome. But how do you enjoy them beyond spring and summer? Flower pressing is one of the best ways to ensure that you enjoy blooms all year long.

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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.