There is a rich history of letter-writing and sending mail to strengthen written connections. Admittedly, our current technological advances have reduced handwritten letters as a form of communication to almost obsolete. We are more likely to receive packages from chain stores, advertising material and government-issued fines rather than handmade cards daily. It is much more efficient to send a text and receive an almost instant response; Interestingly, such a slow, time-consuming method of communication and connection is enjoyable and even exciting. Receiving postcards in the letterbox via snail mail for this project has been a delightful (yet almost entirely foreign) experience, delivered with a lesson in patience.
Julie has consistently sent handmade postcards to her loved ones for over 15 years. This practice ignited the project to be directed to Side Gallery, and Julie and Jo began the 'Postcards from here' project in 2022, just a little over a year ago.
Both accomplished interdisciplinary artists, the pair proposed to send postcards to the gallery all year and, in 2023, exhibit the body of work as a whole. The process and logistics alone were fascinating; we could watch the artists creating a daily and weekly creative practice ritual and keep up to date with their latest creative endeavours. We received about two weekly postcards at the gallery last year; at the last count, we received just over 100 postcards.
Julie and Jo consistently reused, found and made materials to create their postcard substrates to write and paint on. Doing so is a link to their professional practices; It is vital to note the considered nature of the project and appreciate the link to the wabi-sabi and imperfection celebrated in their creative practices.
The subject matter of the tiny art pieces varies but generally is consistent with the artist's natural environments. Julie and Jo live in the Blue Mountains, surrounded by World Heritage wilderness. Their home life seems idyllic; warm fires, cabin life, an abundance of natural surroundings and the very type of place I would go for a holiday to soak up all that serenity. So it is no wonder their handmade postcards, with snippets of painted still life scenes, pets, people, and their natural environmental surroundings, are like glimpses of a romanticised vacation. Indeed, Julie even sent us postcards from her trip to the UK...
The postcards are small, with only enough room to jot a few lines, making the postcard a tiny but celebrated look at what is happening to those around us. Receiving the mail has been a quiet reprieve between the onslaught of emails, text messages, notifications and TikTok dances, which are by-products of the technological advances on which we so heavily rely for productivity.
The small, handmade works of art acquired by snail mail forced us to take a breath and reflect on distance, connection, and creative practice and have connected us in the slow pleasure of waiting. The genuine connection of receiving a handmade postcard, painted and sent with intention, that has travelled and found its way to you is hard to explain; it is almost akin to appreciation and relief. Whatever it is, I now understand it is worth the wait.
Laura Brinin
Curator
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-01.jpg)
Jo Breneger 01 2022
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 15 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-01.jpg)
Julie Paterson 01 2022
Watercolour and ink on foam core
9.6 x 13.7 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-02.jpg)
Jo Breneger 02 2022
Acrylic on card
12.6 x 11.5 cm
$120 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-02.jpg)
Julie Paterson 02 2021
Pencil and watercolour on card
11.5 x 20.5 cm
$120 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-03.jpg)
Jo Breneger 03 2022
Acrylic on card
12.8 x 15.5 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-03.jpg)
Julie Paterson 03 2021
Pencil and ink on card
18 x 11.2 cm
$120 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-04.jpg)
Jo Breneger 04 2022
Acrylic on card
12.6 x 16 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-05.jpg)
Jo Breneger 05 2022
Acrylic on card
13 x 15.4 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-06.jpg)
Jo Breneger 06 2022
Acrylic on card
13 x 16 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-04.jpg)
Julie Paterson 04 2022
Watercolour on watercolour paper
10.4 x 15 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-07.jpg)
Jo Breneger 07 2022
Acrylic on card
12.6 x 15.4 cm
$120 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-05.jpg)
Julie Paterson 05 2021
Pencil and ink on card
11 x 21 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-08.jpg)
Jo Breneger 08 2022
Acrylic on card
20 x 14 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-09.jpg)
Jo Breneger 09 2022
Acrylic on board
12 x 15 cm
$120 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-06.jpg)
Julie Paterson 06 2021
Oil pastel on foam core
11 x 22 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-10.jpg)
Jo Breneger 10 2022
Acrylic on card
18 x 12.2 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-07.jpg)
Julie Paterson 07 2022
Ink and pastel on card
16 x 11.4 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-11.jpg)
Jo Breneger 11 2022
Acrylic on card
18.4 x 12.5 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-08.jpg)
Julie Paterson 08 2022
Ink and crayon on card
12 x 25.2 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-12.jpg)
Jo Breneger 12 2022
Acrylic on card
20.1 x 14.6 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-09.jpg)
Julie Paterson 09 2022
oil pastel on card
8 x 18.2 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-13.jpg)
Jo Breneger 13 2022
Acrylic on card
13 x 18.5 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-10.jpg)
Julie Paterson 10 2022
Watercolour on card
19 x 13.5 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-14.jpg)
Jo Breneger 14 2022
Acrylic on card
12.6 x 15.5 cm
$120 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-11.jpg)
Julie Paterson 11 2022
Ink on card
13.3x 19 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-15.jpg)
Jo Breneger 15 2022
Acrylic on card
15.5 x 20.2 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-15.jpg)
Julie Paterson 15 2022
Watercolour on card
13.5 x 20.5 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-19.jpg)
Jo Breneger 19 2022
acrylic on board
20 x 14 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-16.jpg)
Julie Paterson 16 2022
Ink and crayon on card
12 x 13.4 cm
$120 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-20.jpg)
Jo Breneger 20 2022
Acrylic on board
14 x 20 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-17.jpg)
Julie Paterson 17 2022
Ink and crayon on card
12.2 x 16.3 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-21.jpg)
Jo Breneger 21 2022
Acrylic on card
20 x 14 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-18.jpg)
Julie Paterson 18 2022
Pencil and crayon on card
9 x 13 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-22.jpg)
Jo Breneger 22 2022
Acrylic on board
20 x 13.8 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-19.jpg)
Julie Paterson 19 2022
Ink and watercolour on card
10 x 18 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-23.jpg)
Jo Breneger 23 2023
Acrylic on board
14.1 x 20 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-25.jpg)
Julie Paterson 25 2022
Ink and watercolour on card
14 x 10 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-20.jpg)
Julie Paterson 20 2022
Watercolour and ink on card
14 x 11 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-24.jpg)
Jo Breneger 24 2022
Acrylic on board
20 x 14 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-21.jpg)
Julie Paterson 21 2022
Japanese watercolour on card
22 x 15 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-25.jpg)
Jo Breneger 25 2022
Acrylic on board
14 x 20 cm
$120 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-23.jpg)
Julie Paterson 23 2022
Pencil and watercolour on card
8 x 20.5 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-24.jpg)
Julie Paterson 24 2022
Ink and gouache on card
11 x 15 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-26.jpg)
Jo Breneger 26 2022
Ink on board
12 x 15 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-27.jpg)
Jo Breneger 27 2022
Acrylic on card
20.2 x 13.8 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-26.jpg)
Julie Paterson 26 2022
Gouache and pencil on card
17 x 14.6 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-28.jpg)
Jo Breneger 28 2022
Ink on card
19 x 13.3 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-27.jpg)
Julie Paterson 27 2022
Watercolour on card
14 x 10.5 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-29.jpg)
Jo Breneger 29 2022
Acrylic on card
19 x 13 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-30.jpg)
Jo Breneger 30 2023
Acrylic on card
13.2 x 21.2 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-29.jpg)
Julie Paterson 29 2023
Watercolour and pencil on card
14 x 16 cm
$120 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-31.jpg)
Jo Breneger 31 2023
Acrylic on vintage Japanese postcard
9 x 14 cm
$120 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-28.jpg)
Julie Paterson 28 2023
Japanese watercolour on card
10 x 15.8 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-34.jpg)
Jo Breneger 34 2022
Acrylic on card
20 x 12.5 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-30.jpg)
Julie Paterson 30 2023
Watercolour and pencil on card
9.5 x 18.9 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-32.jpg)
Julie Paterson 32 2023
Oil pastel on card
10 x 19 cm
$120 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-31.jpg)
Julie Paterson 31
Watercolour on card
11 x 18 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-35.jpg)
Jo Breneger 35 2022
Acrylic on card
14.5 x 19 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-33.jpg)
Jo Breneger 33 2023
Acrylic on card
13.5 x 20.5 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-36.jpg)
Jo Breneger 36 2023
Acrylic on card
12.5 x 15.5 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-12.jpg)
Julie Paterson 12 2022
Watercolour on card
17.5 x 9 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-13.jpg)
Julie Paterson 13 2022
Watercolour on foam core
10.5 x 22 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-14.jpg)
Julie Paterson 14 2022
Pencil on card
12.5 x 15 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-37.jpg)
Jo Breneger 37 2023
Acrylic on card
13.5 x 19.5 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-38.jpg)
Jo Breneger 38 2023
Acrylic on card
20 x 15 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-39.jpg)
Jo Breneger 39 2022
Acrylic on card
15.5 x 20 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-40.jpg)
Jo Breneger 40
Acrylic on card
15.5 x 18.5 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-41.jpg)
Jo Breneger 41 2023
Acrylic on card
20 x 14 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-18.jpg)
Jo Breneger 18 2022
Ink and watercolour on card
19 x 13 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-32.jpg)
Jo Breneger 32 2022
Acrylic on card
9 x 14 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-22.jpg)
Julie Paterson 22 2022
Graphite on card
12.5 x 25.5 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-42.jpg)
Jo Breneger 42 2023
Acrylic on card
12.5 x 20.5 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-43.jpg)
Jo Breneger 43 2023
13.5 x 21.5 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-44.jpg)
Jo Breneger 44 2022
Acrylic on card
14 x 20 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-45.jpg)
Jo Breneger 45 2023
Acrylic on card
13.5 x 21.5 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-46.jpg)
Jo Breneger 46 2022
Acrylic on card
14 x 20 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-47.jpg)
Jo Breneger 47 2022
Acrylic on card
13.5 x 19.5 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-48.jpg)
Jo Breneger 48 2022
Acrylic on paper
14 x 20.5 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-33.jpg)
Julie Paterson 33 2022
Pencil + watercolour on card
12.5 x 21.5 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-34.jpg)
Julie Paterson 34 2022
Ink on card
14.5 x 10.5 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-35.jpg)
Julie Paterson 35 2022
Ink and pencil on card
14.5 x 21 cm
NFS
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-36.jpg)
Julie Paterson 36 2022
Gouache on card
11 x 15 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-37.jpg)
Julie Paterson 37 2022
Acrylic gouache on card
21 x 12 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-38.jpg)
Julie Paterson 38 2023
Watercolour on card
19 x 10 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-39.jpg)
Julie Paterson 39 2022
Watercolour on card
13 x 10 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-40.jpg)
Julie Paterson 40 2022
Watercolour on card
15.5 x 16.5 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-41.jpg)
Julie Paterson 41 2022
Ink on card
14 x 18.5 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-42.jpg)
Julie Paterson 42 2022
Watercolour and pen on card
10 x 17 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-43.jpg)
Julie Paterson 43 2022
Watercolour on card
9 x 14 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-44.jpg)
Julie Paterson 44 2022
Ink on card
10 x 13.5 cm
$120
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-45.jpg)
Julie Paterson 45 2022
Watercolour on card
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-46.jpg)
Julie Paterson 46 2022
Watercolour and ink on card
9 x 14 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-47.jpg)
Julie Paterson 47 2022
Watercolour and ink on card
11.5 x 14 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-48.jpg)
Julie Paterson 48 2022
Acrylic gouache on card
13 x 12.5 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-49.jpg)
Julie Paterson 49
Watercolour and pencil on card
21 x 11.5 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Julie-Paterson-50.jpg)
Julie Paterson 50 2023
Pencil and ink on card
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-49.jpg)
Jo Breneger 49 2022
Acrylic on card
8.5 x 14 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-50.jpg)
Jo Breneger 50 2022
Acrylic on card
14 x 20.5 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-51.jpg)
Jo Breneger 51 2022
Acrylic on card
20 x 14 cm
$140 Sold
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-52.jpg)
Jo Breneger 52 2022
Acrylic on card
20.5 x 14.5 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-53.jpg)
Jo Breneger 53 2022
Acrylic on card
15 x 20 cm
$140
![](https://sidegallery.com.au/images/artwork/postcards-from-here/Jo-Breneger-16.jpg)
Jo Breneger 16 2022
Acrylic on card
20 x 12.5 cm
NFS