Meet Maren Oates

We recently connected with Maren Oates and have shared our conversation below.

Maren, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

During COVID, I started getting up about an hour before my kids and heading into my basement studio/office. At the time, my daughter was only 9 months old, so getting out of bed wasn’t always easy, but it became a life-changing decision and a ritual I hate to miss. Some days this may be my only creative time, so maintaining this morning routine has kept me moving forward in my art practice and helped keep my creative muscles fresh.

All artists struggle with periods of creative block or feeling uninspired. I’ve found that if I keep working and keep my routine going it is easier to move through these creative challenges. Several famous artists have quotes based on this idea including Pablo Picasso who said, “Inspiration does exist, but it must find you working.”

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a self-taught mixed-media artist and most of my art involves gel plate printmaking (or gel printing). Gel plates are like firm, thin Jello Jigglers (although not made from gelatin) used to create monoprints or monotypes, but you don’t need a printing press.

My creative process begins with rolling acrylic paint onto a gel plate. To create texture I press found objects, usually from the recycle bin, into the paint before pulling a print on paper. I’ll repeat this process to build several unique printed layers, often masking certain areas using hand-cut stencils and occasionally leaves from the garden. Some of these prints become collage material, but most are finished with lines of machine or hand stitching.

I discovered gel printing when I took my first workshop with a local artist in 2012 and instantly LOVED IT! I had dabbled a little in screen printing and taken some traditional printmaking classes, but gel printing was a technique I could do from anywhere with minimal setup or supplies. I spent several years playing with my gel plate at the kitchen table, but when we moved to a house in 2015, I finally had a dedicated space in the basement to make messes.

At this time, I also had an office job at a non-profit art center. We occasionally had exhibits of staff artwork, so I started sharing my artwork in these small shows. As my confidence grew, I started submitting to other local calls to artists.

When the COVID-19 pandemic started in March 2020 I had a baby and suddenly a 3rd grader at home for school. After several months of this situation, which we joked about as “Mom School”, I was exhausted and frustrated. My solution was to make time for my creativity and make time for myself. I decided to start waking up around 5 am, before my kids were up, to spend an hour in my studio working on anything art-related. This has turned into a ritual that I continue today. I’m not naturally a morning person, but I love spending the first hour of my day on art. (Admittedly this plan would not have worked if my daughter had been a poor sleeper, but I am grateful that she usually slept through the night at this point.)

In early 2021 I decided to join the #100dayproject. I didn’t have a specific project in mind, but I knew it would help me become more comfortable posting on Instagram and sharing my artwork with others. And it worked! I credit this time with lots of wonderful creative experimentation and for pushing me out of my comfort zone. I gained many new followers and connected with artists from around the world, it changed my outlook on using social media to promote myself as an artist.

Since then, my focus has been teaching in-person gel printing workshops and exhibiting and selling my artwork in Western Washington. After having the opportunity to teach an online lesson at the 2024 Gel Printers Summit this past fall, I’m turning my attention to developing online art workshops in 2025.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Being open to new opportunities or ideas – Some of my first experiences as an artist were friends suggesting something new, like submitting work for a specific call to artists or teaching a workshop on gel printing. I continue to keep myself open to new opportunities or ideas. They don’t always work out, but I still take something from the experience, even if it’s what not to do in the future. And, as I’ve gotten busier, I’ve realized that sometimes saying “no” is necessary, especially when balancing my family’s schedules.
2. My determination – I may not know exactly where my creative journey will lead, but I have always been determined and hard-working. I think those character traits have had a big impact on how far I’ve come over the past few years.
3. Listening to my inner voice – I struggled with this when I was younger and spent too much time worrying about other people’s expectations when making decisions. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve done a better job of listening to my inner voice and not worrying as much about what other people think. I became an artist in middle age, and I’ve found that my choices, whether creative or business, are better when I’m listening to myself, and not basing decisions on other’s opinions.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

First, I usually take a step back and breathe. Sometimes the source of stress is related to motherhood or is a problem completely out of my control, but often it is from me trying to do too much without enough time or a plan. If I need a moment to cry in the bathroom I’ll take it and be kind to myself.

Either way, eventually I grab a notepad and a pen and make a list. I try to write out everything that may need to be done. When the to-dos in my head, both large and small, become a visible list, I can cross out the things that need to fall off or move items to a different day or week. It feels more manageable and easier to process when it’s something I can look at.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://marenoates.com
• Instagram: @maren.oates
• Facebook: @maren.oates.artist

Image Credits

All images are my Maren Oates, artist