May 13, 2020

Meet Jean Mackie of Made With Fun in Culver City

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jean Mackie.

Jean Mackie – Artist/Actress – Intuitive – Joyologist

LOVES putting the ingredient of FUN into everything she does. Coming from a wild mixture of polar-opposite energy in a family with not much in resources but volumes of wit and wisdom, her parents and grandparents, truly raised her in the LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL principle. LIFE HIGHLIGHTS worth mentioning: graduated University of Wisconsin Milwaukee with honors in Theatre/Drama, winning numerous art contests and one big acting contest that started her career in New York as an actress, got into recovery from alcoholism and discovered the glass ceiling holding her back finally was shattered.

FAVORITE THINGS TO DO: loves watching fireworks on rooftops, hanging lanterns on the trees, eating lemon curd on peanut butter, drinking juniper water at sweat lodges, putting warm clothes on from the dryer, finding money in a pocket, getting postcards from cool places, mixing old things with brand new, seeing Christmas lights in summertime, clearing everything with a leaf blower, snapping packaging wrap uncontrollably, dressing up in foreign clothes, screaming loud on top a roller coaster, chasing possibilities worth pursuing, knowing there’s always something fun to look forward to.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No, not a smooth journey at all, but interestingly, I’m the kind of person who LOVES turbulence on an airplane because it makes the ride a lot more fun… so I guess it rather fitting that I’d be choosing white water rapids to journey through life. Some challenges have been having, skin cancer, alcoholism, and a boating accident that flattened the right side of my face and caused me to lose all feeling from my left ear to my nose down to my mouth and part of my Esophagus (I grateful after about six months the feeling started coming back…. AND I was EXTREMELY GRATEFUL to have an awesome doctor who put me back together again.)

Please tell us about Made With Fun.
In a nutshell, I do many creative things, but my business MADE WITH FUN specializes in a mindful art form called Zentangle. It’s incredibly easy to do yet looks extremely complicated and intricate. It’s also amazingly therapeutic and is kind of the “doctor-feel-good-art-form” that’s good for whatever ailes you. I teach it to people and I find it interesting how addictive it can be but in a good way.

There’s many projects I’ve done and many experiences I’ve had that I’m proud of, but what I’m soooooo in love with and jazzed about my Zentangle art is that it’s such an intimate experience yet blends well working with people at the same time. It’s also the kind of thing that you have no preconceived idea what you’re going to do, instead you just start small with doing a repetitive pattern and then another and it all of a sudden starts talking to you and telling what to do. It really has a lot of magic and mysticism in it because it even helps change the way you think. It’s kind of like yoga for the brain.

I guess something that sets me apart from others with this art form is I like to put intuitive readings into. In fact, I hear, feel and see things that just speak to me when I’m doing the art on my own or when I’m doing it with other people. I even offer Xjiin sessions which entail creatively working with another person and channeling energy that wants to be expressed by creating a portal for that desire to come through. It’s BLAST to do with people.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Always, but I’m sure I’d still be making the same creative life choices I’ve made just differently.

Pricing:

Zentangle private instruction – $50-hour (2-hr. minimum – materials included)
Zentangle event – $35-55 per person (varies according to supplies needed – materials included)
Xjiin session – $150

Contact Info:

Address: 11302 Summertime Lane
Culver City, CA 90230
Website: www.MadeWithFun.com
Phone: (310) 621-1362
Email: [email protected]

Image Credit:
Emmett Loverde – Photographer

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Meet West LA Series Sponsor:

Megan Gallagher: Hi! My name is Megan Gallagher! I’m a 24 year old 2x TED speaker, #1 best selling author, afterbuzz tv host, mental health advocate & podcast host! I am very passionate about helping teenagers and changing the school system to have mandatory classes about self love, mental health and following your dreams! Growing up, I started struggling with anxiety as young as three. As a got older, I became more aware of my body and by 14, I knew that something was wrong and I needed help. It was really scary to be sitting in class(in High School) and all the sudden feel hot, sweaty, a fast heart rate and like I was going to pass out. These “episodes” happened every day, in all seven of my classes. After a few months of struggling, I decided to sit my parents down and vent to them. It was so scary and surreal, yet I felt so understood and safe. I then started therapy for three years and went on a journey to discover who Megan was. Now, having overcome it all and being in such a different place in my life- I have dedicated my life to being that person I craved as a teen. I speak at middle schools and high schools across the country in hopes of spreading positivity and inspiring teens to reach for the stars!