This interplay between past and present through artistic ambiguity can often suggest the importance of place, intertwining reality and fiction. Her illustrations and photographs are attempts to capture moments of intrigue. They are born from her explorations and observations.

“I am a collector of tiny beautiful things. It is rare that I return from a walk without finding a bone or claw or some other little treasure in my pocket. Raw beauty – found in both the mundane and the extraordinary – drives me to create and continue along my exploratory path”.

In 2013, after graduating from the University of Vermont, where she studied Political Science and History, Tessera moved to Provincetown for the summer. Between jobs, she sought solitude in the dunes. During these excursions, armed with her sketchbook and pencils, she documented her observations. By September, she knew she wanted to experience Provincetown during the quieter months and tap into the creative energy she began to feel that fall. September two years later, after having lived in Germany, Iceland and Vermont, she returned to Provincetown. During her first month back, she completed a Natural Science Illustration workshop with David Wheeler at the Center for Coastal Studies, and found her calling.