A Maker, A Doer of Anything • by Megan Hunt

I feel like I never “became” an artist any more than I became a daughter or an American or a lover of fashion or a hater of casseroles. My creativity is a gift and I believe I have a responsibility to society to use it. With the badge of “artist” in my toolkit of skills, I have pursued a life of big ideas, achievement, and ass-kicking. I say I am a MAKER! A DOER of ANYTHING!

Building my Identity around MAKING
Throughout my childhood I loved learning new creative techniques with the guidance of my brilliant mother, including bookbinding, flower pressing, playwriting, friendship bracelet-making, singing, painting, lettering, sewing — things every child loves to do, when given the chance and enough encouragement. I PASSIONATELY loved these projects and I also loved to share my work by staging fashion shows, theatrical performances, gallery openings in my bedroom — and I never passed up a chance to make a buck. For shows, I charged admission. I made invitations to an art sale in my room and sent them to my family members. I even taped a “tip jar” to my bedroom door for a while. I was also bossy, inviting friends over to instruct them how to paint a portrait, or make a music video, or design a brochure on the computer. My entire life and identity was built around my intense, enthusiastic love of MAKING.

Understanding my Inner Self
As I grew up and began the scary, uncertain journey of adolescence, I began to realize that I was very sick. I was in a dark, difficult place and I suffered deep in my soul. There are long stretches of days that are completely wiped from my memory. Confusion, fogginess, delusion, exhaustion. I began a cycle of self-harm and would spend days in bed crying, wondering why my mind and soul — my formerly inquisitive, joyful, and blissfully innocent self — had betrayed me. A few years later I discovered I was living with bipolar disorder. Since then I have turned to my inner self to better understand how to care for my soul and reason with the chaotic, disordered part of me.

Giving my Fire Back to the World
So that is how I learned why I can’t slow down. Why the new dreams and ideas never end, why the anxiety and pride and determination and ambition can’t stop. It is because I have more fire in my spirit than I can contain. I feel more intensely. Every longing, every torment, and all of my angst and passion devours me. Art — CREATION — is how I allow that fire to escape. I give it to the world.

Making Magic
I make a living as an entrepreneur, a blogger, a speaker. I own my bridal design company, Princess Lasertron, and Omaha’s first co-working facility, CAMP. Right now I am learning more about how I can start a charter school near CAMP that brings co-working concepts to education. Over time I have learned how to use my bipolar episodes as a personal business advantage, allowing myself to brainstorm, using my extra energy to work later and longer, and planning new projects. When I come down, I am able to judge the best ideas with a clear head and I bring them to my team. Then we make magic.

Turning my Greatest Challenge into my Greatest Gift
Every day I am driven by my passion to improve the lives of the people around me. This is how I have turned my greatest challenge into one of my greatest gifts and created an artistic life full of passion, creativity, and MAKING.

Megan Hunt is the owner of Princess Lasertron and mama to 8-month-old Alice. To learn more about her life and work, visit princesslasertron.com.

Comments

[Laura Comito]

Megan- Keep speaking out about your life with bi-polar. Most people don't "get it" and they won't unless we keep talking outloud about it. I am so proud of you and everything you have accomplished. I have always said mental illness is something you really have to take ownership of before you can manage and live with it. I refuse to let my mental illness define who I am and I embrace who I am! Love you to Pieces!

[Karen]

The intensity with which your young eyes are focused on that ribbon, your hands expertly grasping it-I see creativity future and her name is Princess Lasertron.
You are an inspiration, a person who gives us insight into your process, without editing or prettying it up. You have so many layers, and it is a privilege that you allow us to share in your life-art, family, inner soul. Thanks so much.

[Herb]

Way to turn a challenge into an advantage!

[meg]

Thank you everyone for your kind comments and support. I love this community and people like you motivate me to keep creating! xo