A few weeks in a medieval hilltop town in Tuscany became an unforgettable journey of discovery, inspiration, and painting. Explore the new work and stories that emerged from my artist residency in Barga, Italy.
Terra di Luce (Land of Light) 36"x24" | Acrylic on unstretched canvas
In September, I spent two and a half weeks at an artist residency in Barga, a beautiful medieval hilltop town in Tuscany, Italy. I arrived with my paints, brushes and sketchbooks, ready to work, but I couldn't have anticipated just how much this experience would give me.
Welcomed so warmly by Jane and Michael at Quattro Archi, I spent my days wandering the narrow streets, looking closely at doorways and windows, discovering the little shrines tucked into walls, and observing the rhythms of everyday life. I painted the surrounding landscape, the interiors, the tables, the chairs, and the ordinary objects that somehow seemed extraordinary in this setting.
I was drawn to the colors, the layers of history, the worn surfaces, and the unexpected combinations of shapes and light. Some days led to larger, expressive paintings on canvas; others to small studies, ink drawings, and experiments on found paper.
What emerged is a body of work that reflects not just a place, but the experience of being fully immersed in it—looking, noticing, and making.
Here is a glimpse of what I brought home.
The Architecture
Le Persiane, The Shutters, 31"x47", Acrylic on unstretched canvas
The streets of Barga offered endless possibilities for looking and painting. Doorways, shutters, arches, and narrow passageways became starting points for exploring color, structure, and the space between abstraction and representation. Rather than documenting a place literally, I wanted to capture something of its energy and the experience of moving through it.
The Shrines, the Stories, the Details
L'Edicola Fiorita (The Flowering Shrine) | 11"x17" | Acrylic on paper
L: Edicola con il Segno Arancione (Shrine With the Orange Mark) | 6"x9" | Ink and found paper
R: Edicola con Striscia Arancione (Shrine with Orange Stripe) | 6"x9" | Ink and found paper
Le Edicole, (The Shrines) 53"x32" | Acrylic on unstretched canvas
One of the recurring subjects of my time in Barga was the small religious shrine, or edicola, found throughout the town. Each one felt like a little world of its own, layered with history, devotion, decoration, and traces of the people who pass by.
I returned to this subject in different ways, from larger paintings to intimate mixed-media works on paper. Together, these pieces became a kind of visual conversation about memory, tradition, and the images woven into everyday life.
At The Table
La Moka (The Mocha Pot) 18"x24" | Acrylic on unstretched canvas
Sulla Tavola (On the Table) 8"x8" | Ink on paper
Piccola Natura (Little Still Life) 8"x8" | Ink on paper
Rosa e Verde (Pink and Green II) 8.5"x11" | Acrylic on paper
Tre Albicocche e Un Fico (Three Apricots & A Fig) 8.5"x11 | Acrylic on paper
Some of my favorite moments came from the simplest subjects: a coffee pot, a table, a chair, a bowl of fruit. These familiar objects became opportunities to experiment with color, composition, and mark-making.
I also made a collection of small ink drawings, working with a lighter touch and allowing the lines to remain spontaneous. These quieter pieces are an important part of the story of this residency, offering a more intimate counterpoint to the larger paintings.
Small Works, Found Words, and Unexpected Discoveries
Sotto i Tetti (Beneath the Roofs) 8"x8" | Acrylic on paper
Above R: Lampione Rosa (Pink Streetlamp) | 5"x5") | Acrylic on paper
Panni Stesi (Hanging Laundry) 8"x8" | Acrylic on paper
Alongside the paintings, I explored smaller works on paper, including drawings made on found paper and pieces inspired by words and fragments encountered in Italy. These works allowed for a different kind of spontaneity—quick observations, loose lines, and the pleasure of following an idea without knowing exactly where it would lead.
The contrast between these small, intimate pieces and the larger paintings is something I especially love about this collection.
Above L: Storie Portafortuna (Lucky Stories) 5.5"x9"| Acrylic on paper
Above R: Lo Smirti | (no conjugation) 5.5"x9" | Acrylic on paper
Bottom: Fichi Colorati (Colorful Figs) 11"x14.75" | Acrylic on paper
A Little Piece of Barga to Take Home
Jodi Ferrier and Rachael VanDyke packed up and ready to head home!
I returned home with more than paintings. I came back rejuvenated with a renewed appreciation for looking closely, for letting a place reveal itself over time, and for allowing the work to evolve through the act of showing up and making.
I'm still gathering and organizing everything from the residency, and I look forward to sharing the complete collection on my website soon.
In the meantime, I wanted you to be among the first to see this work together. If something catches your eye, please feel free to reply to this email. I'd be happy to share more information about an individual piece. And if you want to see more of my time in Barga, check out my Instagram for videos, behind-the-scenes glimpses of time at the residency, as well as the exhibit of our work in a spectacular renovated stone gallery, where centuries-old character meets a fresh, contemporary setting for showing art.
Thank you so much for following along and for being part of my artistic journey!
Warmly,
Jodi
P.S. Curious about artist residencies? Rachael VanDyke, Lindy Bishop, and I share our experiences and insights on the Creative Contemplation Podcast.