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.
Animals
April 13, 2021

Dazzling Golden Tortoise Beetles Look Like Tiny Jewels Scurrying Across Leaves

When is a tortoise not a tortoise? When it’s actually a beetle! The golden tortoise beetle, whose scientific species name is aspidimorpha sanctaecrucis, is a creature with a turtle-like shell decorated with a striking golden pattern on its protective carapace. It looks like a tiny jewel come to life. As adorable as the beetle is sparkling, the part-golden, part-transparent carapace does more than just look pretty.

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Art Supplies
March 14, 2021

Learn About How Linseed Oil Can Improve the Qualities You Already Love About Oil Paint

Oil paints have been the chosen material of artists for centuries, and it’s easy to see why. The luscious pigments and beautiful sheen that they produce give any subject an air of regality. But did you know that there’s a way to increase these qualities in your paint? Linseed oil is a painting medium that can be added to alter the pigment ever-so-slightly to behave in a different way.

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Oil Painting
March 9, 2021

Finger Painting Artist Celebrates Beguiling Beauty of the Desert Sky à la ‘Starry Night’

Throughout her career, artist Iris Scott has proven that finger painting isn’t just for kids. Opting for her digits instead of a paintbrush, her large-scale pieces offer an incredible and intimate look into how she sees the world: one that is full of color, texture, and energy. This is encapsulated in her latest painting called Sage and Time.

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Photography
March 5, 2021

Photographer Creates His Own 78-Card Tarot Deck Inspired by His Sleep Paralysis [Interview]

Like many people, photographer Nicolas Bruno is enthralled by tarot cards. Having interacted with the mysterious cards at a young age, the deck of divination continued to pique his interest into adulthood. Now, Bruno’s latest series, titled The Somnia Tarot, depicts the entire 78-card deck and considers the symbology behind the alluring images that are often used to predict the future. Bruno began his tarot card photography by referring to his portfolio of surreal imagery.

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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.