Meet Marla Warner | Artist | Graphic Designer | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marla Warner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marla, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Honestly, I realized that I had made a lot of other people a lot of money through my personality, management skills and creative problem solving. So, after a little while it became abundantly clear that I should use these traits and skills to make myself some money. Plus I was tired of executing other people’s dreams and keeping mine on the back burner.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Wow, these questions are tough!

I think one thing that sets me apart from others is my love of the human experience. I like being present in the humanness of being alive. The good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful.

I am proud of a lot of things. I am proud of all of my projects to date. From the “Black Goddess Within” oracle deck to my very first art show in 2018 “Unrequited Love: Photos for the Rejected.” I am proud of my tenacity. I am proud of my ability to cultivate community. I am proud of my creativity.

My career has been, and continues to be, a very winding path. I can say without a doubt that my will to keep going is single handedly what has gotten me this far. I am a woman that just keeps showing. Especially when I really believe in something. I am also very good at bringing people together and being apart of a team. 2023 in particular had been a challenge for my career due to my mother’s passing. And I am sooo grateful for the people (community) in my life who supported me and the brand over the past 13 to 14 months.

NO! It has not been easy at all. lol lol lol. I had no idea the sacrifices I would have to make. The focus that is required. THE HUGE AMOUNT OF REJECTION I have to overcome. lol lol lol. I deal with these challenges by not looking back too often or for too long. I see each obstacle as a singular event rather than a collection of difficulties.

Lessons I’ve learned along the way….. to prioritize my needs, physically, emotionally, intellectually etc. learning to centre myself has been so difficult but has ALWAYS been the correct answer.

I want the world to know that I am living my dream and I am sooo grateful for that. It’s not perfect and it’s not what I thought it would be. BUT it is my dream. I want the world to know that Rebel Howl is a brand that is relatable, edgy, funny and honest. I want the world to know that doing cool independent shit is very very difficult BUT soooo fulfilling.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
OOOOO ok, I wanna start by saying that I’m not really much of a “Best of ” type of person. I don’t really check out the hottest, coolest, newest places. But I have a few things I love. I love riding a bike along Santa Monica to Venice Beach. And then finding the perfect perch to people watch for many many hours. I have met some fantastic characters and I have smoked weed with some interesting people while just sitting.

I also love people watching in densely populated areas full of tourists. Such as Man’s Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Boulevard and Rodeo Drive. Again it’s always about the people watching for me and having a front row seat to life.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh my goodness, I have SOOOOO many. But I want to highlight the two people who took me on when I had nothing, I knew nothing and I was probably more of a liability than an asset. lol lol. But they could see my eagerness, excitement and passion in those early days. They are a married couple named Thomas Bollmann and Ingrid Jones. Their company is called Seed9. And they are truly my mentors. Thomas is a photographer turned ceramic artist and Ingrid is an Art Director turned Art Curator.

Website: https://rebelhowlstudios.com/ https://rebelhowl.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebelhowlstudios/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marla-warner-9a809438/

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rebelhowlstudios

Image Credits
Marla Warner