Joanathan Bessaci is a French-American artist in Washington D.C. whose paper cut art is composed of layers that he meticulously cuts by hand from vintage French Michelin maps from the 1920s-1970s.


Born and raised in Lyon, France, Joanathan studied applied arts and photography, and began his artistic career in his 20s as a painter. He was drawn to paper cutting after visiting a Chelsea gallery in New York City in 2004 where he was introduced to the art, however, it wasn't until 2012 that he began pursuing the interest seriously.


At that time, Joanathan visited Lyon where he rediscovered his collection of antique Michelin maps and began cutting portraits. He creates series of dancers, sports figures, animals, and well-known faces including celebrities and politicians. The average size of these pieces is 16 x 20 inches (40.6 x 51cm), but he sees his present work as sketches for larger pieces.


"I use old French Michelin maps because I like their color and texture but also becau…

If you haven't had the pleasure of discovering the work of Zahra Ammar, here's your chance to see examples and hear, in her own words, what makes Zahra tick as a self-taught paper artist. Originally from Pakistan, she has been based in Sacramento the past several years after living for a few years in the Middle East and the Bay Area.


With a head for business - she has studied finance and economics - and a love of language - as evidenced by the engaging Instagram descriptions she writes - Zahra is her own best advocate for finding opportunities to promote paper art. I frequently marvel at how much she accomplishes. Not only a fine quiller who sometimes creates large-scale pieces that are several feet wide, she also does origami, kirigami, and layered paper cut art, yet still finds time to share tips via the Contemporary Quilling Facebook group and on Instagram.


Tell us about your love of art and creating.
In my memory, there has never been a time when I have not had some cre…

Thank you to Helen Hiebert, paper artist and paper maker, and Kim Grummer, owner of Arnold Grummer's Paper Making Kits and Supplies, for sharing this step-by-step tutorial for making plantable seed paper. Created by Helen, it is the April project in 2020 The Paper Year, a project planner. An earth-friendly idea is especially appropriate today as it is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, which is being celebrated by 193 countries worldwide.


A favorite Earth Day project is making pollinator seed paper. The steps to make it are the same as making any sheet although a thinner sheet may be preferable. Seeds are added to blended pulp before the sheet is formed to make paper that later can be planted to grow flowers. Here are Arnold Grummer’s tips for Seed Paper Success.

No Blender Needed!
Helen filmed this short video that shows how easy it is to make seed paper with young children.



The 2020 goal of Earth Day Network is to provide plants and flowers for bees, birds and butterflies …