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.
Watercolor Painting
August 25, 2022

Watercolor Paintings Blend Fantasy and Realism With Dazzling Details [Interview]

Creating art can be akin to solving a puzzle. Once you have an idea of what you want to create, you’ve got to figure out how the elements will come together and make your vision a reality. This is how the artist Hieu Nguyen, aka kelogsloops, approaches his gorgeous watercolor paintings. Blending elements of fantasy with a realistic style of illustration, the storybook imagery is arresting in its emotion and attention to detail.

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Paper Art
August 22, 2022

Illuminated Cut Paper Landscapes Encapsulate Enchanting Worlds in Glass Vessels

Japanese artist Ayumi Shibata creates delicate vistas in glass vessels. Featuring cut paper architecture and foliage, the illuminated pitchers cast an enchanting glow that transports us to another world. All of the elements are cut from white paper, so we can see every tiny shape, from tree branches to embellishment on the buildings. And by using slightly translucent paper, each layer of the artwork is visible and adds depth to the pieces.

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Pen Drawing
August 18, 2022

Artist Celebrates the Perfection of Nature Through Meticulous Geometric Drawings

Artist Rafael Araujo expresses his love of nature through geometry. Incorporating the golden spiral and helixes into his compositions, he uses these concepts as the basis for shells and kaleidoscopes of butterflies. The results are drawings in which the natural elements are sketched and colored in while the geometric guiding lines are left on the page.

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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.