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.
Pencil Drawing
December 13, 2020

Hyperrealistic Pencil Portraits Offer a Surreal Look Into Being Black in Today’s World

Artist Arinze Stanley achieves his incredible hyperrealistic artwork by exercising what he refers to as the “three P’s.” The principles that Stanley works by are patience, practice, and persistence. His dedication—and his continual strive towards perfection—has helped the self-taught artist to develop portraits of Black people that appear in often surrealistic ways.

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Creative Products
December 5, 2020

15+ Unique Holiday Gift Ideas You Can Only Find on Etsy

Looking for holiday gift ideas that are unique and help support small businesses? If so, make Etsy your first stop. The massive maker marketplace is chock-full of creative products that you’ll have as much fun giving as your recipient will have opening. But with so many shops, it can feel daunting—to say the least—to try and find the perfect present. Well, have no fear!

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DIY
November 21, 2020

20 DIY Christmas Gift Ideas You Can Complete in Less Than an Afternoon

If you’re struggling with what to give as a gift this holiday season, you’re not alone. When it comes to Christmas, it can be tricky to wade through the millions of products available online—especially when buying them can feel so impersonal. But, there is a solution! DIY Christmas gifts offer you the chance to craft your own personalized present for the special person in your life.

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Nature
November 16, 2020

Mesmerizing Time-Lapse Videos Show How Much Plants Move During a Day

It might not seem like it, but plants are continuously moving throughout the day. Although many are anchored to the soil, their leaves change position as their environment changes, too.  This phenomenon is best demonstrated through time-lapse videos of the tiny movements that a plant makes over the course of a day. When sped up, it’s incredible to see just how much is happening when we aren’t looking.

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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.