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.
Embroidery
June 30, 2021

Embroidery Artist Mimics Lush Forest Landscapes Through Brilliant Stitching Techniques

Artist Katrin Vates evokes the lushness of the great outdoors through embroidery. Her meticulously detailed landscapes depict tall trees and hidden houses via tiny stitches. They evoke the beauty and wonder you feel when walking through the woods; that the landscape is vast but is full of small moments like a leaf floating towards the ground. Vates became interested in embroidery as a way to decorate things in her home.

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DIY
June 19, 2021

How to Craft a Kitty Playground With Your Own DIY Cat Tower

Being a cat parent has its perks. The purrs, snuggles, and sweet meows are some of the best parts about having a kitty in your home. But the furniture? That's a different story. If you’re a cat owner with discerning decor taste, chances are that you find the options for cat towers and scratchers a bit lacking. There’s hope for you, though!

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Art History
June 16, 2021

Illuminating Infographic Reveals How 24 Art Movements Got Their Names

Have you ever wondered why we call Cubism… well, Cubism? Or how the artistic movement Futurism got its name? Adam Aleksic, aka Etymology Nerd, reveals the how and why some of the biggest—and most influential—art movements have their memorable titles. He published an infographic on social media that features 24 art movements with brief explanations of the stories behind the names. Some of the movements featured are fairly self-explanatory.

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Books
June 3, 2021

Coloring Book Combines Math and Art in Illustrations of the Golden Ratio Found in Nature

In 2016, artist Rafael Araujo wowed the world with his Golden Ratio Coloring Book. The adult activity book proved a wonderful way to marry mathematics with art. Containing 25 illustrations inspired by nature and created using the Golden Ratio, it was a bestseller that is since out of print. But now five years later, Araujo is back with a second installment called the Golden Geometry Coloring Book.

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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.