Buddy Bench Friendship Mural

Have you ever heard of a Buddy Bench? Neither had I, until I was contacted by Buckman Elementary school to paint a friendship-themed mural behind one.

My daughter and her buddy on the bench in front of my mural

At first I thought it was a bench for making up after an argument, but it is so much sweeter than that! When a child is feeling lonely on the playground, she can go sit on the buddy bench. Then the other children will come over and talk to her, hang out, and include her in their games.

I wanted to create something that was simple but would add a lot of color to the playground and make the bench more inviting. A teacher at the school suggested that I include the quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, "The only way to have a friend is to be one."

Here are some photos of the mural from start to finish:

buddy bench at Buckman Elementary