New Moon by Cat Tesla. Provided photo.

Abstract art can take countless forms, but it always comes from somewhere. For painter Cat Tesla, her art has long been inspired by the natural world, and how her life is reflected in it. Tesla, who specializes in large scale abstractions, currently has an exhibition on view at Art Center Sarasota, titled Living by the Water. The paintings in the series include more literal nature-inspired abstractions from her Exhale series as well as non-objective abstractions from her Feeling Good series.

Exhale came out of a health issue Tesla was presented with. In 2022, prior to moving to Sarasota from Atlanta with her husband Simo, Tesla was given an early stage breast cancer diagnosis. After receiving surgery, Tesla needed to connect with nature. “When I was able to travel, the first thing that I said to my husband was, ‘I want to go to the water,’” says Tesla. “We went to the water, and until that moment I was holding my breath. I had this big exhale and then I was so enamored with the beauty here in Florida, so as soon as I started to paint, I was creating these nature-based abstractions.”

Tesla’s Feeling Good series originated during the pandemic, when she felt that her art could be uplifting for those facing difficult times. To create her works, Tesla employs an arsenal of drawing materials. “I use wax crayon, graphite, oil stick, oil pastel, tempura sticks—there are so many different drawing mediums to pull from. As far as the application of the paint, I probably have 1,000 different brushes,” says Tesla. “The brushes are anywhere from something as skinny as a pencil tip to a 12 inch wide brush made of brushes that I tape together. I also use the large sponge that you would use to wash your car with.”

Living by the Water, May 21-July 31, Art Center Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

New Moon by Cat Tesla. Provided photo.

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