Colour Me Happy! - By Brandi Hofer Studios

Brandi Hofer Studios
  • 4.6 (16)
  • Arts
  • Updated Biweekly

A podcast for creatives, dreamers, and anyone ready to live more boldly — Join me, Brandi Hofer, on Colour Me Happy! Each week, we dive deep with artists, makers, and inspiring humans to talk about what it really takes to live a creative life. We get honest, we laugh (a lot), sometimes we cry, and we always leave feeling a little more seen and connected. Because creativity isn’t just about making art — it’s about making a life that feels true to you. Tune in and see how we turn the everyday ordinary into something truly extraordinary — together.

  1. 2d ago

    The Brave Leap: From Seattle to Lisbon - Life in Portugal with Artist Lauren Springer

    Can you decide to change your life? The answer is yes. You just have to take the big dream and break it into small steps. - Brandi What happens when you decide the life you’re living doesn’t have to be the life you stay in? Lauren Springer shares the brave journey of moving her family from Seattle to Lisbon and the lessons she learned about taking big, overwhelming dreams and turning them into small, manageable steps. We talk motherhood, starting over in a new country, creative habits, sketchbooks, and giving yourself permission to experiment without needing everything to be perfect. Lauren’s story is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the biggest changes in our lives begin with one small decision. 1. Make the big dream smaller. Big life changes can feel completely overwhelming when you look at the whole picture. Instead, focus on the next small step that moves you in the direction you want to go. 2. Give yourself a playground, not another expectation. Lauren’s approach to sketchbooks is a great reminder that creativity doesn’t always need to produce something “good.” Use the space to experiment, play with colour and composition, and let the ideas develop. If Lauren’s brave leap from Seattle to Lisbon inspires you to dream a little bigger, come make your own brave leap with us in Portugal. Join us and Uptrek on the Algarve coast in June 2027 for our Portraits Without Fear retreat: a week to step away from the everyday, reconnect with your creativity, and give yourself permission to imagine what’s next. And here’s the amazing part: Lauren and her partner actually did a spreadsheet of the top places in the world, they landed on Portugal! And now we are going there Learn more about our Art Retreat HERE

  2. Aug 21

    How Our Past Influences Our Creative Future - West Coast Live Studio Tour with Samantha Agar and Rose Currie

    Your past doesn’t have to stay in the past. It can become part of the art, the stories and the spaces you create. This episode is a very special West Coast artist visit with Samantha Agar and Rose Currie. We had the honour of stepping inside Samantha’s stunning studio and home on Vancouver Island, a space so inspiring you’ll want to go home and make art all day. Samantha shares how her upbringing and family history have shaped her creative life. We also explore the incredible story of her grandfather, who was part of the Great Escape and documented his experiences through his artwork. It got us thinking: How does our past influence our creative futures? And how can we bring those stories, objects and pieces of our history into our creative spaces? Samantha does this beautifully throughout her home and studio. Rose Currie is also back on the podcast, sharing her honest thoughts on being an artist with ADHD (we all relate) and the creative challenges many of us experience, including the familiar emotional crash and dysphoria that can follow a conversation or social interaction. If you missed Rose’s first episode, be sure to go back and listen. And this is one episode you really want to watch. Throughout the video, Samantha takes us through her collections and shares footage of her grandfather’s artwork from New York and WWII. Seeing these pieces in the space where her own creativity is unfolding makes this conversation even more special. If this conversation inspires you to take that next brave step, I’d love to invite you to join me in Portugal for ⁠Portraits Without Fear⁠, an intimate creative retreat on the breathtaking Algarve coast. Don't hesitate, or this will pass you by...We’ll paint, explore, build confidence, and reconnect with the joy of creating alongside an incredible community of artists. Learn more about how you can be a part this transformational experience HERE   2 Takeaway Tips: Look backwards to move forwards. Explore your family stories, upbringing, places and experiences and ask how they might be influencing the artist you are becoming.Make your space tell your story. Surround yourself with the objects, artwork, memories and collections that inspire you. Your creative environment can become part of your creative practice.

  3. Aug 13

    Your Best Ideas Might Not Find You in the Studio - With UK Artist Jane Chipp

    Not all our best ideas come in the studio. Sometimes they find us on a walk, while reading, or sitting with a cup of tea. - Brandi Jane Chipp Art shares how ordinary objects, memories and everyday moments can become the starting point for meaningful art. From discovering a stranger’s photographs and handwriting to creating a 100 Day Project that led to the book Artful Memories, Jane talks about storytelling, consistency and paying attention to the world around us.  We talk about showing up even when you don't feel ready, creating work consistently, and giving yourself permission to step away from the studio so ideas have room to find you. 2 Tip: 1. Show up before you feel ready.  You don't have to have the answers before you begin. Put out the materials, start making and let the process lead you. This is your cue to be inspired, put yourself out there, be afraid and then do it anyway! If this conversation inspires you to take that next brave step, I’d love to invite you to join us in Portugal for ⁠Portraits Without Fear⁠, an intimate creative retreat on the breathtaking Algarve coast. Don't hesitate, there are only a few spots left! We’ll paint, explore, build confidence, and reconnect with the joy of creating alongside an incredible community of artists. Learn more about how you can be a part this transformational experience HERE

  4. Aug 7

    Your Art Begins Where Your Comfort Zone Ends - With UK Artist Florence Lee

    What if the only thing standing between you and the creative career you dream about is the courage to put yourself out there? The magic happens when you’re willing to be seen. Your vulnerability isn’t a weakness. It’s the very thing that makes your art unforgettable. - Brandi In this episode of the Colour Me Happy Podcast, I sit down with portrait artist Florence Lee for an honest conversation about finding your artistic voice, embracing imperfection, and allowing your work to evolve. Florence shares how completing the 100 Heads Challenge transformed her portrait practice and why creating volume instead of chasing perfection helped her discover a style that was unmistakably her own. This is your cue to be inspired, put yourself out there, be afraid and then do it anyway! If this conversation inspires you to take that next brave step, I’d love to invite you to join me in Portugal for Portraits Without Fear, an intimate creative retreat on the breathtaking Algarve coast. Don't hesitate, or this will pass you by...We’ll paint, explore, build confidence, and reconnect with the joy of creating alongside an incredible community of artists. Learn more and reserve your spot HERE 1. Your creative career begins the moment you let yourself be seen. You don’t have to have it all figured out before you share your work. Growth happens through showing up, being vulnerable, and trusting . 2. Every painting you share, every opportunity you say yes to, and every imperfect step forward opens the door to possibilities you could never have planned.

  5. Jul 31

    It’s Never Too Late to Begin - With West Coast Artist Susan Salvati

    Our creativity doesn’t have an expiry date. Every life experience has been preparing you to create the art only you can make.This week on the Colour Me Happy Podcast, I’m joined by one of my dear friends, Susan Salvati, joining us from the beautiful west coast of Canada. We talk about what it means to pursue your passions at any age and why it’s never too late to begin. Susan shares how years of life experience, raising a family, and following unexpected paths have shaped the artist she is today. We dive into creative blocks, letting go of perfectionism, and embracing the freedom that comes from creating for yourself. If you’ve ever thought you’ve missed your chance, this conversation is the reminder you need that your best creative years may still be ahead of you. 2 Takeaway Tips: It’s never too late to follow what lights you up.Your life experiences are not detours. They are the foundation of the artist and person you’re becoming. There is no deadline on living a creative life.Stop waiting for the perfect moment and just start creating. Create the small piece. Fill the sketchbook. Make the messy first attempt. Every page and every painting brings you one step closer to the work you’re meant to make.

  6. Jul 24

    A Leap of Courage - With Artist & Educator Jamie Hamilton

    “The moments that changed my life the most were the ones where I believed in myself before I had any guarantees.” Artist Jaime Hamilton joins me to share about the power of surrounding yourself with inspiring people, finding mentors who encourage your own voice, and why some of the biggest opportunities in life only happen after you take the leap. Jamie talks about how stepping away on a creative retreat in the south of France became the reset she didn’t know she needed. If you’ve been waiting until everything feels certain, this conversation is your reminder that creativity often grows on the other side of courage. Two Takeaway Tips Don’t wait until it feels safe. Whether it’s applying for a grant, booking the retreat, or starting the project, some of the best opportunities only appear after you decide to trust yourself. In our book we call it "Be Brave Days", where you just go for it, apply, ask, and go for it! The worst thing that can happen is a no!Find spaces that fuel your creativity. Being surrounded by encouraging people and inspiring places can completely shift your confidence and help you create work that feels more like you.

  7. Jul 17

    Why the Life You Want Can’t Wait - With Artist CHOC Howell

    The life you’re dreaming about isn’t waiting for the perfect time. Take the leap, trust yourself, and discover the extraordinary hidden in the ordinary. -Brandi Artist Clare Howell shares how one spontaneous trip to Ireland changed everything... What began as an unplanned adventure grew into a life of creativity, connection, and courage. From traveling solo across Europe in a motorhome to becoming a full-time artist at 60, Clare reminds us that the biggest barriers are often the ones we create ourselves. This conversation is an invitation to stop waiting, book the trip, say yes to the experience, and trust that every step toward creativity leads you exactly where you’re meant to be. 2 Takeaway Tips Don’t let money become the reason you never live your life. There may never be a “perfect” time. Simplify where you can, take the leap, and invest in experiences that move you closer to the creative life you truly want.Find the extraordinary in the ordinary. Leave room for the unexpected. Some of life’s greatest moments happen when you stop over planning, stay curious, ask for help, and let adventure unfold one step at a time.

  8. Jul 10

    Trusting Your Creative Journey - With Artist Charlotte Hamilton

    Every experience, every detour, every season of your life becomes part of your art. Trust the journey because it’s quietly shaping the artist you’re becoming. -Brandi Not every lesson happens in the studio. In this heartfelt conversation, Charlotte Hamilton shares how travel, life experience, curiosity, and years of creating have all shaped the artist she is today. We explore why some creative lessons can’t be rushed, how play helps us move past perfectionism, and why the fear of not creating exactly what’s in our minds keeps so many artists stuck. If you’ve ever questioned your path or wondered if you’re “behind,” this episode is a reminder that every experience has value. Trust your creative journey, embrace the unexpected, and let your life become part of your art. Have an art experience with us in Portugal 2027! We would love to have you! Learn more HERE! Your life is part of your art. Every place you visit, conversation you have, challenge you overcome, and season you live through becomes creative fuel. Don’t rush the journey.Play before you perfect. When fear keeps you from putting your vision on paper, explore your materials with curiosity instead of expectation. Creativity grows when you give yourself permission to experiment.

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A podcast for creatives, dreamers, and anyone ready to live more boldly — Join me, Brandi Hofer, on Colour Me Happy! Each week, we dive deep with artists, makers, and inspiring humans to talk about what it really takes to live a creative life. We get honest, we laugh (a lot), sometimes we cry, and we always leave feeling a little more seen and connected. Because creativity isn’t just about making art — it’s about making a life that feels true to you. Tune in and see how we turn the everyday ordinary into something truly extraordinary — together.

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