Nathan Durfee has a knack for taking something already delightful and turning the charm dial up a few notches past reason. Case in point: his ongoing series of vintage postcards. You know the kind, sepia-tinted scenes of Charleston’s streets, sweetgrass baskets, steeples, and cobblestones. The type of imagery that already whispers, “Wish you were here.”
But Nathan doesn’t stop at whispering. He paints in characters—quirky, whimsical, occasionally mischievous souls who wander into these iconic Lowcountry backdrops as though they’ve been there all along. A giraffe craning its neck beside Rainbow Row? Why not. A thoughtful robot leaning against a palmetto tree? Naturally. His additions are playful, unexpected, and yet somehow they fit seamlessly into Charleston’s historic charm.
The result is a postcard that tells two stories at once: the Charleston you know, and the Charleston you didn’t know you wanted. It’s the artistic equivalent of stumbling upon a hidden alleyway in the city—familiar yet surprising, steeped in history but very much alive in the now.
Charleston has never been short on charm, but Nathan Durfee seems determined to prove there’s always room for more. His work reminds us that history isn’t frozen; it’s a stage where new characters (and occasionally cats in costumes) can step in and make themselves at home.
If you’ve ever wanted a keepsake of Charleston that captures not just its beauty, but also its sense of humor and imagination, Nathan’s postcards might be the most honest souvenir you can find. CLICK HERE to see what he's painted.
