Black Boy Joy: The Resilient Smile (2022), Jeff Beckham
48 x 30 Acrylic on Canvas
Because we never quit… the face of infinite hope and resilience. I wanted to capture the joy in the faces of the boys from the reference photo while using the shadows and black to show the grit of the world they must face.
This was painted for my dad, my nephew, my mentees, for myself… I wanted to paint a compaction to The Bridges Ruby Crossed … I’ve finally completed it… A portion of the proceeds from the prints will go towards the Better Boys Foundation, where I serve on the board of directors. Jeff Beckham
It can be the love between lovers when they’ve been together for a long time and are not so hot and bothered anymore. It is the accepting love of good friendship. This is the love that is good for your health—the touch of a loved one. The philia touch lowers blood pressure. People in loving relationships feel your love, have few doctor visits, shorter hospital visits, have less pain, and have more positive emotions. These positive consequences of loving friendships make us more resilient when hard times come.
See
In life, have a friend like a mirror and shadow. A mirror never lies, and a shadow never leaves. I am lucky to have a few friends like this. So, so lucky.
Anna Ancher (1859–1935) and Marie Krøyer (1867–1940) were renowned Danish painters and key figures in the Skagen Painters colony, a group of Impressionist artists in the late 19th century. They were close friends and frequently depicted together in art.
Say
Some friendships “click” because your brain quickly decides a person feels high-reward and low-risk. In the first minutes, you read tiny cues like tone, timing, and facial expression—to predict warmth and trustworthiness. Shared values and humor lower uncertainty and feel validating, which boosts your sense of connection. When conversation flows, you often fall into synchrony (subtle mirroring of energy, rhythm, and emotion), which increases rapport. Then the spark becomes real friendship through reciprocity: small moments of honesty, kindness, and follow-through that teach your nervous system, “I’m safe here—and I want to come back.” (WSJ)
Have you ever had the experience of clicking with someone? Describe the interaction and who it was with.
Have you noticed anything in common with the type of people you click with? What is it?
Send a friend a note, memory, or text that shows you appreciate them.
Do
Dig through your camera roll to find images of you and a close friend, share them!
Go to a local art museum or gallery and look among the pieces for 'artwork friends'.
I was recently visiting the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and had to pop into one of my favorite galleries. It is the private collection of Myron Kunin and fills the space with portraits, floor to ceiling.
Looking around for potential artwork friendships, I happened upon these two fierce women. They embody a confidence and power in their poses and bold colors. I had a feeling that as friends they would be the type to get stuff done!
Artist's Wife, 1945, Milton Avery & Temma in Orange Dress, 1975, Leland Bell
Make an artwork that represents you and your closest friend(s).
Make art WITH your closest friend(s). Co-create artwork. To co-create each person starts with a piece of paper and draws or paints on it for a minute or two, before passing it to the friend. Pass back and forth until you feel it is done. What do you bring to the world?
Loving the Weekly Wonder?
Please forward it to a friend, or buy me a coffee to say thanks! Oatmilk flat white :)
Yours in wonder,
Please share your reflections with me by replying to this post, or post and tag my Wonder Wander Facebook or Instagram pages!
Some friendships “click” because your brain quickly decides a person feels high-reward and low-risk. In the first minutes, you thin-slice—reading tiny cues like tone, timing, and facial expression—to predict warmth and trustworthiness. Shared values and humor lower uncertainty and feel validating, which boosts your sense of connection. When conversation flows, you often fall into synchrony (subtle mirroring of energy, rhythm, and emotion), which increases rapport. Then the spark becomes real friendship through reciprocity: small moments of honesty, kindness, and follow-through that teach your nervous system, “I’m safe here—and I want to come back.” (WSJ)
Have you ever had the experience of clicking with someone? Describe the interaction and who it was with.
Have you noticed anything in common with the type of people you click with? What is it?
Send a friend a note, memory, or text that shows you appreciate them.
Do
Dig through your camera roll to find images of you and a close friend, share it!
Visit a local art museum and find 2 artworks that look like they might be friends.
Loving the Weekly Wonder?
Please forward it to a friend, or buy me a coffee to say thanks! Oatmilk flat white :)
Yours in wonder,
Please share your reflections with me by replying to this post, or post and tag my Wonder Wander Facebook or Instagram pages!
Storge Love (The Love that Holds Us) Done Good Daddy by Cbabi Bayoc We’ve spent this month exploring the four types of love—eros (spark), philia (friendship), agape (big-hearted care), and today, our finale: storge. Storge (STOR-jay) is the love that doesn’t usually announce itself. It’s the steady kind. The “I’m here” kind. The love that grows quietly through repetition—through lunches packed, rides given, stories reread, inside jokes that never get old. It’s the love that holds. See This...
Eros: erotic, passionate love Rise and Monty Kissing, 1980, Nan Goldin Silver Dye and Bleach Print, 15.5 in x 23 in As Valentine’s Day approaches, think about how you use the word “love” in your life. You love your significant other, kids, friends, and siblings in different ways. Last week we looked at Agape. This week we are focusing on Eros love. Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones of University of Utah Health describes eros as erotic or sexual or passionate love. It's often all about need, and it's...
Agape: Selfless Action You Can See and Feel Agape #12 Blue-Aphrodite Acrylic on Canvas, 30 in × 24 in Agape—Love That Shows Up Agape is love that doesn’t ask to be repaid. Not the love of liking someone. Not the love of agreeing with someone. Agape is love that becomes action: showing up, sharing, protecting, and tending. Aphrodite's Agape numbered series was inspired by a medical crisis she faced in 2010. During her times of need through those years, she received much love and support from...
