Maurice Bouchard is a stay-at-home dad and artist in Athens, Georgia, known for watercolor painting, 3D printing, and Warhammer miniatures, shaped by years in memory care and a steady faith community.
On a quiet morning in Athens, Georgia, the sunlight falls across a small kitchen table covered in watercolor brushes, paint trays, and tiny half-finished figures from Warhammer 40K. A pot of coffee sits nearby. So does a baby monitor. This is where you will often find Maurice Bouchard, gently brushing color onto a sheet of paper while the house begins to wake. Art is not only a hobby for him. It is a rhythm that helps guide his days.
Maurice grew up in Watkinsville, a close and friendly town just outside Athens. As a kid, he was always surrounded by sound and imagination. He played the clarinet in school and remembers the excitement of making All-State in middle school. He also spent many afternoons at Herman C. Michael Park, running across soccer fields with friends. When he was home, he would dive into other worlds through manga like One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach. He played games like Counter Strike, StarCraft, and Morrowind. He watched long marathons of Stargate SG-1, Star Trek, and Firefly. These stories helped shape how he saw the world. They made him curious. They made him creative.
That early creativity is a thread that Maurice has carried into every stage of his life. It even followed him into college. He graduated from OCHS and then earned his degree from the University of Georgia. During his first year, he received the UGA Charter Scholar honor, a recognition given to high-achieving students. Years later he would also complete training which opened the door to work inside care settings across Athens.
Maurice spent several years working in memory care. These were roles that asked for patience and empathy every single day. He worked as a care partner in memory care, then as a patient care tech at local hospitals. These jobs were demanding, but they shaped his understanding of people. Maurice learned to listen. He learned to slow down. He learned that even small acts can offer comfort.
Later in life, Maurice stepped into a new role in his own home as a stay at home dad. This shift did not stop his creative habits. Instead, it made them even more meaningful. Every day now is a mix of parenting, painting, printing, and practicing guitar. There is a gentle balance to it. While his child naps, he adds color to a sketch. After bedtime, he works on a new 3D print or paints the tiny details on a Warhammer miniature. It is a simple routine, but it carries the same theme that has shaped his life. Creativity is not an activity for Maurice. It is a way to stay connected to himself.
His hobbies stretch across many worlds. He loves watercolor because it allows soft mistakes and second chances. He enjoys 3D printing because it blends imagination with science. He listens to the sound of his guitar to unwind after long days. He reads comics and watches shows from the sci-fi and fantasy genres he grew up with. He follows wrestling stories on WWE and NXT with the same excitement he once had as a kid reading manga. These interests are more than entertainment. They help him stay inspired and grounded.
Faith also plays an important role in Maurice’s life. His church community helps guide his choices and keeps him steady during busy or difficult seasons. It is a place where he feels supported. It is also a place that encourages him to bring his creative gifts into everything he does.
At the center of Maurice’s story is a simple idea. Creativity builds connection. It connects him to the stories he loves. It connects him to the work he has done. It connects him to his family and his faith. It even connects him to the quiet moments at the kitchen table where a blank sheet of paper slowly becomes something full of color.
Maurice’s life today may look peaceful from the outside, but inside it is full of movement. There are tiny paint strokes, baby giggles, and the steady whir of a 3D printer. There are storylines from wrestling shows, chapters from manga, and reruns of Star Trek on the TV. It all blends together and shows how creative a life can be, even on the simplest days.
In Athens, Maurice continues to paint, to parent, and to build a life shaped by stories, service, and imagination. His world is not driven by big crowds or loud achievements. It is shaped by quiet practice, small moments, and a belief that creativity matters. It is a life built one careful stroke at a time.
Interview with Maurice Bouchard
You spend a lot of time creating art at home. What does a normal creative day look like for you?
Most days start with watching my children and getting the house settled. When I get a quiet moment, I set up my watercolor paints on the kitchen table. Sometimes I work on a sketch. Sometimes I paint a Warhammer figure or check on a 3D print. I keep the projects small so I can pick them up when I have a free minute. It feels peaceful and helps me stay connected to myself.
You grew up loving manga, video games, and sci fi shows. How do those early interests influence your life now?
They still inspire me every day. Stories from One Piece and Naruto taught me about friendship and courage. Games like Morrowind and StarCraft made me curious about new worlds. Shows like Stargate and Star Trek showed me what imagination can look like. All of that shows up in my art and in the way I think. It keeps me excited about creating things.
You worked in care settings before becoming a stay at home dad. What did you learn from those roles that helps you today?
I learned patience. I also learned to pay attention to small details and to stay calm when things get stressful. Working in memory care and hospital settings taught me that every moment matters to someone. That lesson helps me now as a parent and as a person. It reminds me to slow down and be present.
What has been the biggest challenge in balancing parenting with your art?
The hardest part is finding steady time. Kids need a lot of attention, so I had to learn to work in short bursts. I used to finish a whole painting in one long session. Now I finish it in small steps. It took time to adjust, but I try to see it as part of the process. It makes me more patient with myself.
You have a wide range of hobbies. Which ones bring you the most joy right now and why?
Watercolor painting is my favorite because it feels calm and forgiving. If I make a mistake, I can blend it out or start fresh. I also enjoy 3D printing because it is exciting to watch something I imagined turn into a real object. And of course I still love watching sci fi shows and reading manga. They help me relax at the end of the day.
Your faith and community play a big role in your life. How do they guide your creative work and daily routine?
Faith keeps me grounded. It reminds me to be kind and patient. My church community also makes me feel supported and connected. When I create art or take care of my family, those values guide me. They help me stay steady, even on busy or difficult days.
