I’m Maren Oates, an artist based in Western Washington working in collage and gel plate printmaking. Using a gelatin-like plate and acrylic paint, I create monotypes and monoprints without a press, embracing a process that allows for experimentation and discovery. My printing tools are often discarded or overlooked objects—tape spools, bubble wrap, cardboard, vintage utensils, and forgotten toys. I use these materials to stamp, scrape or somehow alter the painted surface of the gel plate, before pressing and lifting the paper to reveal the shapes and textures introduced by these everyday objects. Even after thousands of prints, the results continue to surprise me. My work highlights the creative potential and visual richness embedded in materials that might otherwise be ignored or thrown away.
