Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist If you had told me a few years ago that I'd be a vlogger, filming my adventures, and documenting everyday life, I probably would've laughed. I've never been someone who enjoys being in front of a camera. In fact, I once enrolled in a six-week theater workshop just to… Continue reading Insta360 GO Ultra: My Outdoor Filming Companion
Category: My Life in Watercolor
Writing Like a Geologist: Field Notes, Maps, and the Fountain Pen Tradition
Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist Before GPS and tablets, every strike and dip was inked by hand by geologists. It is a ritual of observation and artistry. There is a certain romance in geology that isnโt always captured by equations, satellite images, or the neat layers of a GIS map. Long before digital mapping… Continue reading Writing Like a Geologist: Field Notes, Maps, and the Fountain Pen Tradition
Colors from the Earth: Making Natural Watercolor Pigments from Rocks and Soil
by Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist Thereโs something grounding about creating color with your own hands โ literally. Long before tubes of paint lined art store shelves, artists and scientists alike relied on the earth itself for pigment: crushed rocks, minerals, clay, and soil. Each hue told a story of its origin โ a… Continue reading Colors from the Earth: Making Natural Watercolor Pigments from Rocks and Soil
A Christmas Tree That Tells Our Story
This year, I wanted our Christmas tree to be more than just festiveโit had to tellย our story. Every ornament hanging from its branches represents something we love as a family, something that made this year uniquely ours. In addition to the usual glass baubles and glittery ribbons, I chose to decorate with pieces that hold… Continue reading A Christmas Tree That Tells Our Story
Why I Often Choose to Give Away My Paintings as Gifts to Friends, Colleagues, and Family
Whenever I think about giving a gift to my friends or family, I often wonder: would they really appreciate a painting made by me? After all, not everyone collects art, visits galleries, or even talks about paintings in their daily lives. But the more I reflect on it, the more I realize that a handmade artwork is… Continue reading Why I Often Choose to Give Away My Paintings as Gifts to Friends, Colleagues, and Family
Sinours Phuket Edition: A Watercolor Souvenir from Asia-Link Sketchwalk Thailand 2025
From August 14 to 17, 2025, Phuket, Thailand transformed into a living canvas as hundreds of urban sketchers from across the Asia-Pacific region gathered for the Asia-Link Sketchwalk Phuket 2025. Over four vibrant days, the islandโs streets, heritage buildings, and waterfronts became backdrops for artists who came together to share their passion for on-location sketching. Four… Continue reading Sinours Phuket Edition: A Watercolor Souvenir from Asia-Link Sketchwalk Thailand 2025
A Surprise Gift from UMAE & Ladybug – A Taiwan-based Art Company
Photo of the "toys" from UMAE & Ladybug the day they arrived in the mail. A few months ago, I shared a blog post reviewing the UMAE & Ladybug watercolor paper blockโa product that had genuinely impressed me with its quality. I included a few of my paintings done on the paper, thinking nothing more… Continue reading A Surprise Gift from UMAE & Ladybug – A Taiwan-based Art Company
A Space of My Own: Where Art, Science, and Stillness Meet
Iโve recently moved into a new placeโand itโs a dream come true. While itโs officially our familyโs secondary home near my workplace, Iโve begun to think of it as something more: my sanctuary. My babies visited me for the first time and spent a few days to keep me company while I spruced up our new… Continue reading A Space of My Own: Where Art, Science, and Stillness Meet
Exploring UMAE Watercolor Paper Block: A Review and My Watercolor Sketches Using the Block
Hello, everyone! I took advantage of the Easter break to slow down and recharge โ spending some much-needed time with my potted and hydroponic plants, and finally picking up my watercolor brushes again. Itโs a hobby Iโve missed dearly but had to set aside due to work, which Iโve shared more about in the blog… Continue reading Exploring UMAE Watercolor Paper Block: A Review and My Watercolor Sketches Using the Block
Bringing Back Snail Mail: Why I Still Send Handwritten Postcards
Hi, everyone! On February 14, after months of neglect, I finally opened my mailbox. Inside it were three holiday cards from my friends abroad. Yay! These days, I rarely receive snail mail since bills and notifications arrive via email, unlike before when handwritten letters and postcards were common. However, I had sent a few postcards to my… Continue reading Bringing Back Snail Mail: Why I Still Send Handwritten Postcards