Marlena
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles,
California
Art
Photographia
Eductaion
Passionate about nurturing young minds and empowering students to explore and develop their creative talents. Experienced educator with a strong background in teaching photography, digital art, painting, mixed media, and ceramics. Committed to fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment that encourages artistic expression, technical growth, and independent thinking.
About Ms. McClain
Ms. McClain has been an artist her entire life, but her passion for photography truly took root in high school during a multicultural cruise with her family through the Mediterranean. It was on that trip—after developing her film aboard the ship—that she instantly fell in love with the art of photography. I didn’t come from a family that was artistic, spiritual or had any sense of cultural abundance. I felt alive when I had a camera in my hands because it gave me feel empowered with a purpose, it gave me access to other worlds where before I felt trapped, or limited.
Although her high school offered only two photography classes, which were discontinued by her junior year, Ms. McClain remained determined to pursue her passion. She continued developing her skills throughout college, graduating from UC Santa Cruz in 2010 with a B.A. in Fine Art, with a focus in Photography.
She later expanded her expertise with additional coursework at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City. While in NYC, she immersed herself in the art world through photography-related teaching roles, internships, and various positions—including working as a photography assistant and gallery intern at Metro Pictures Gallery and with organizations such as Miss Universe/Miss USA. During this time, she also began building her freelance portfolio, taking on portrait and wedding photography clients.
