Tessa is a cum laude graduate from UP Diliman, Bachelor of Fine Arts. After decades of hiatus from painting, she has come back to the art world. She regularly attends Filipino Portrait Artists Guild Inc. (FILPAGI) portrait sessions to hone her craft further and enjoy other artists' support and company. She is also a member of the Philippine Guild of Watercolorists (PWG) and Philippine Pastel Artists Inc. (PPA).

Mainly an oil painter, she has newly discovered pastel and watercolor. She goes to various workshops and joins exhibits to develop and enhance her skills. She likes to draw and paint to bring out the beauty in everyday subjects that may seem mundane. She has won 1st place in a couple of watercolor workshops. In 2019 and she triumphantly bagged 3rd place in a national competition held by PPA National. In 2020, she was elected as the Internal VP of PPA.

She is drawn to traditional paintings by the old masters and admires realism, impressionism, and modern art.