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.
Painting
March 2, 2021

Artist Seamlessly Places Beloved Pop Culture Icons Into Old Military Paintings

An Australian artist known as scadarts (aka mandal0re) creates stately portraits of characters from pop culture with a distinct twist. Each digital collage features the figure donning military attire and posing for a style of portrait formerly reserved for royalty. The images have a historical feel with a muted palette, strong lighting, and tempered brushstrokes that recall the work of the famed painter Caravaggio.

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Installation
February 26, 2021

Flowers Are Flowing Out of Ice Cream Trucks in New York

Floral designer Lewis Miller offers an alternative to New York City's concrete landscape with his colorful “Flower Flashes.” Many eagerly await the magical moment when he and his team will erect a gigantic pop-up display of beautiful blooms on the sidewalk. Each installation features a variety of blossoms that turn trashcans into vases and occupy old phone booths. Miller’s latest flash was in celebration of Valentine’s Day, and it’s perhaps his most impressive yet.

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Graphic Design
February 23, 2021

How Helvetica Became the “Little Black Dress” of Typography

Typography is primarily thought of by designers, but there are some typefaces so popular that they enter the larger cultural zeitgeist. Helvetica is one of those typefaces. Developed in 1957, it has become ubiquitous and can be found everywhere from labels on grocery store shelves to transportation to the logo of American Apparel. Helvetica was not the first name for this now-iconic typeface.

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Crafts
February 20, 2021

Perfect Your Own Pixel Art When You Try Easy-to-Use Perler Beads

Do you love pixel art? This technologically inspired type of work is a charming way to recreate life, square by square. If you’ve always wanted to produce your own portrait made of pixels, then you’ll want to try Perler beads. The material—also called fuse beads, Hama beads, or melty beads—mimics the look of pixels and is an easy material to master. Plus, it's great for kids or adults.

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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.