A few months ago, I shared a blog post reviewing the UMAE & Ladybug watercolor paper block—a product that had genuinely impressed me with its quality. I included a few of my paintings done on the paper, thinking nothing more than to contribute an honest review of a brand (recently arrived in the Philippines) especially targeting audience who likes to paint with watercolors as much as I do.
Fast forward to just two weeks ago, I was pleasantly surprised when I received a message from Giftbox, Inc., the official distributor of UMAE & Ladybug products in the Philippines. It turns out that the Taiwan-based company had come across my blog post and wanted to send me a little thank-you gift. They referred to it as “toys”—and oh, what delightful toys they turned out to be!
The package contained a nifty tin can filled with a set of “the unyielding colors of Taiwan” watercolors in pans, dot cards of their various watercolor offerings, and a beautifully designed pamphlet detailing the story behind the special set of colors—all neatly tucked into a charming cotton pouch. It was thoughtful, unexpected, and incredibly touching.
Even more exciting? I was told that I might be the first in Asia to receive this set, as it hasn’t even been officially launched yet!
According to the accompanying pamphlet, the six colors in the tin can are the result of four months of meticulous, hand-crafted experimentation. Each color was thoughtfully developed to reflect elements of Taiwan’s rich cultural and natural landscape. The shades are inspired by everything from traditional architecture to natural scenery—each one telling a unique story of the island.
Here are the colors in order, as described in the pamphlet:
- Mustard Yellow – inspired by the hue of sun-dried mustard vegetables
- Temple Red – reflecting the iconic red seen in Taiwanese temples
- The Sky of Hualien – capturing the Pacific Ocean as seen from Taiwan’s eastern coast
- Moss Green – representing the island’s lush terrain
- Ink Jade – reminiscent of Burmese jade
- Chestnut Brown – evoking the warm tones of Taiwan’s old brick houses
Swatches below with my first watercolor sketch using the set:
Of course, I couldn’t resist trying them out. The watercolors are creamy, vibrant, and easy to work with—true artist-grade quality. Using only the paints from the tin can + Chinese white, I was able to complete this watercolor sketch showing a river scene after it has just rained as depicted by the turbulent flow. The colors layer well and offer rich pigmentation, making them perfect for both detailed work and expressive washes. I hope to paint more with this set in the coming days.
It’s rare to receive such a gesture from a company, especially one based overseas. It just goes to show how far a sincere review can go—and how genuine some art brands can be in recognizing and connecting with the community.
Thank you, UMAE & Ladybug and Giftbox, Inc., for this wonderful surprise. I’m truly grateful, and I look forward to creating more art with your lovely materials. I’m also thinking of buying a whole set of their transparent watercolors which are now thankfully available at Giftbox, Inc.’s Lazada and Shopee stores.
Oh, and by the way—since Giftbox, Inc., my trusted source for art supplies and the generous distributor who helped send over the gift from UMAE, offered to ship the package for free, I decided to make the most of it. As a small token of appreciation (and to take advantage of the free shipping!), I ordered an art book by Master Chien Chung-Wei from them.
Master Chien Chung-Wei (簡忠威) is a celebrated Taiwanese watercolor artist known for his expressive, atmospheric style and classical influences. Widely regarded as one of Asia’s foremost contemporary watercolorists, his work has earned a global following among both professionals and hobbyists alike.
The shop owner—an accomplished watercolorist himself—knows about my growing art book collection and kindly included the book in the package. I’m excited to spend the year studying and learning from Master Chien’s breathtaking works, and hopefully trying to replicate a few pieces along the way.
I’ll be sharing a sneak peek of the book’s pages in my next blog post—stay tuned!
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