hmm yeah it would be hard to mod a mousepad without messing the surface up

i would keep it as it is

perhaps draw small "G"s around its border
or dremel the border where the mouse isnt going ot be used

btw
since you will have your mouse on it most of the time, it only makes sense to have the art showing in places where it can be seen most of the time

therefore, the border

i would engrave the Gs
then paint the dips in red
how about that?