Colour Me Happy! - By Brandi Hofer Studios

Brandi Hofer Studios
  • 4.6 (10)
  • 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. 1D AGO

    Being an Artist is a Way of Life - With Art Therapist Emily Sharp

    You don’t retire from being an artist. It’s not a job title , it’s the way you move through the world. What if your creativity could take you across the world, and then back home to yourself? In this beautiful and grounding conversation, I sit down with art therapist Emily Sharp to talk about what it really looks like to build a creative life that supports your nervous system instead of burning it out. Emily shares her journey from running two fast-paced art therapy offices in New York, filled with back-to-back sessions, home visits, and constant hustle, to creating an online practice that aligns with her move to Copenhagen and her new season of family life. We talk about making art anywhere in the world, how creativity is something you never age out of, and why being an artist isn’t something you clock in and out of , it’s a way of living. If you’ve ever wondered whether your creativity could carry you somewhere new… this episode is your permission slip. Two Takeaway Tips: 1. Design Your Creative Life Around Your Energy — Not the Hustle. Burnout isn’t a badge of honour. If your creativity is draining you instead of fuelling you, it might be time to reshape how you work. Online offerings, retreats, community spaces — there are more ways than ever to build a life that supports your art and your wellbeing. 2. Make Art Wherever You Are. You don’t need the perfect studio or the perfect season of life. Creativity travels with you. Whether you’re in New York, Copenhagen, your kitchen table, or Greece — you are still an artist. It’s not something you retire from. It’s who you are.

    42 min

  2. FEB 6

    When Art Holds You: Creating Through Joy, Grief & Life’s Big Pivots with Artist Shana Blakley

    Art has a way of staying with you: through joy, through grief, through the moments that change everything. Sometimes it’s not about what you make, but what making gives back to you. - -Brandi In this deeply honest and inspiring episode of Colour Me Happy, Brandi sits down with artist Shana Blakley to talk about the real life behind a creative career. The pivots, the pauses, the grief, the joy, and the moments that quietly (or loudly) change everything. We talk about how trauma can unexpectedly become a gift, a lens that strips away the noise and shows you what truly matters. How so many women find their creative calling not despite hard moments, but because of them. And how art can be the one constant that holds you steady when life doesn’t. Shana shares the behind-the-scenes journey of building a sustainable art practice with her new new Heirloom Collages. This episode is for artists, creatives, and anyone who needs permission to trust their instincts, honour their story, and remember that art can walk beside you through every season of life. 1. Let life inform your art — not silence it. Big moments, including trauma and loss, don’t disqualify you from creating. Often, they clarify what matters most and bring depth, meaning, and honesty into your work. 2. Sustainability comes from truth, not burnout. You don’t have to say yes to everything to be successful. A sustainable art practice grows when you listen closely to what feels aligned, even if that means pivoting away from what once worked.

    57 min

  3. JAN 30

    Paint Your Partner: Squabbles, Soulmates & Belly Laughs - Valentine’s Day Gone Wrong (In the Best Way) with Brandi & Charles

    Have you ever tried painting your partner? Fair warning… things get weird fast 😆 In this Valentine’s episode of Colour Me Happy, Brandi is joined by her husband and partner-in-life, Charles, for a hilarious paint-your-partner challenge that quickly turns into belly laughs, classic partner squabbles, and one unforgettable portrait reveal (yes, we talk about how Charles’ painting of Brandi turned out 👀). But beneath the laughter, there’s something deeper too. Right before Brandi’s mom passed, she kept saying: “You’re in charge of your destiny.” This episode is a reminder that when life feels heavy, sometimes the bravest thing you can do is look around and choose joy, even in the small, silly moments. Two Takeaway Tips Take charge of what you can control. Your attitude, your presence, and how you choose to show up for the people you love matter more than perfection ever will. Leave space for joy and connection. Life can feel heavy — that’s real. But laughter, creativity, and shared moments are medicine. Make time for them on purpose. If you’re local: Join us for our Valentine’s Paint Night on Thursday, February 12th. Come laugh, paint, connect, and make a memory together.

    42 min

  4. JAN 23

    Confessions of Art Teachers: The Fails, the Glue & the Chaos with Artist Jamie Hamilton

    Art isn’t about perfection. It’s about surviving the chaos with humour and showing up again. By far the most hilarious episode we’ve ever recorded (right up there with Jann Arden), this conversation had our cheeks hurting from laughter. We’re joined by art educator Jamie Hamilton aka heymamapaints, who we first met after she took our portrait class, and quickly realized she was our kind of human. We dive headfirst into major art fails, unforgettable classroom moments (yes, someone once mixed hand sanitizer with Model Magic 😳), the mysterious obsession with white glue on everything, and all the things no one warns you about when you decide to become an artist or teach art. But underneath the laughter are solid art tips, permission to loosen your grip on perfection, and a reminder that sometimes the best thing you can do — in art and in life — is laugh, pivot, and keep going. Because life is messy. Art is messy. At least we have our artist friends. 1. Not every “mistake” is a failure — some are just future stories. If it didn’t work, congratulations: you’re officially experimenting. Learn, laugh, and move on without letting it shut you down. 2. Humour is a creative survival skill. When things go sideways (in the studio or in life), a sense of humour keeps you creating instead of quitting.

    46 min

  5. JAN 16

    Creative Superpowers: Why Artists Can Do Anything with Tracy Verdugo

    Being creative means you can pretty much do anything! Your brain is wired with problem-solving superpowers. The magic happens when you stop waiting and start creating! - Brandi  This week on Colour Me Happy Podcast  What if being creative means you’re actually equipped to do anything? In this episode of Colour Me Happy, Brandi Hofer sits down with artist Tracy Verdugo to talk about the real superpower creatives carry: creative problem-solving. Together, they unpack the challenge of juggling endless ideas, letting go of traditional “art rules,” and choosing process and empowerment over outcome-driven expectations. This conversation is a reminder that no one is coming to knock on your door with permission or opportunity—you create it yourself. By thinking outside the box, making bold moves, and leaning into community and connection, creatives can build momentum, confidence, and a practice that truly feels like home. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment, this is your sign to get going. Takeaway Tips: Create the opportunity! Don’t wait for it.Try unconventional approaches in your art practice, pitch your own ideas, start the project, send the message. Momentum comes from action, not permission. Connection is your creative best friend.Reach out, find your people, build community. Creativity thrives when it’s shared, supported, and celebrated together.

    40 min

  6. JAN 9

    Reclaim Your Power ! Self-love isn’t selfish - With Power of Pink Founder Kim Newsted

    Self-love isn’t selfish—it’s how we remember who we are and give ourselves permission to shine. Local business owner and founder of Power of Pink, Kim Newsted, joins me on the Colour Me Happy podcast for a conversation every woman needs to hear. This episode is an invitation to refocus on your power, your goals, your wants, your needs, and your health—without guilt. Kim reminds us that when we truly take care of ourselves, the right people, opportunities, and energy naturally begin to flow into our lives. This event (and this conversation) is about changing the narrative. It’s a reminder that women deserve to shine, recharge, and step fully into their power. When we reclaim our sparkly pink, we don’t dim others—we light the way. If you’re craving inspiration, alignment, and permission to put yourself back on the list, this one’s for you. Focus inward first. When you get clear on what you want and need, everything around you begins to align more effortlessly. Self-care creates ripple effects. Taking care of yourself isn’t indulgent—it’s how you show up stronger, brighter, and more present for everyone else. Ticket HERE - don’t miss it!

    46 min

  7. JAN 4

    Making Time for Art - Even in the Busy Seasons of Life - With Watercolour Artist Emma Jane Lefebvre

    “Sometimes art isn’t about building a career—it’s about holding onto the part of you that’s still yours.” Enjoy this candid and deeply relatable conversation with two Canadian artists as we talk honestly about creativity, motherhood, imposter syndrome, and the messy middle of following a dream you love. Emma Jane Lefebvre of EmJ Watercolour Studio shares how her art practice began in the margins of motherhood. Painting during nap times because she needed something that was just for her. What started without any plan to become a career slowly evolved as she began sharing what she knew, filming watercolour tutorials while her son slept (and sometimes woke up mid-intro—something longtime viewers will recognize). We share practical, budget-friendly art supply tips, including ways to reuse “failed” paintings and give yourself permission to experiment without judgment. This episode is a reminder that even when it’s hard, you can figure it out, one small moment at a time. Create in the margins—those moments matter. Nap times, early mornings, and stolen minutes count. You don’t need more time; you need permission. Take the pressure off your materials. Cut expensive paper into smaller pieces, keep a judgment-free sketchbook, and reuse “bad art” as abstract backgrounds or collage fodder. Nothing is wasted.

    56 min

  8. 12/28/2025

    It’s Never Too Late: Catherine Rains on Choosing Your Creative Dream at 50

    You don’t need the whole plan. You just need the courage to begin—and the right people around you. - Brandi What if that creative dream you’ve been quietly carrying for decades isn’t too late… but right on time? Catherine Rains is back on the Colour Me Happy podcast, and this conversation is a powerful reminder that creativity doesn’t run on a deadline. Catherine shares how she spent years thinking about her creative dream—and how, at 50, she finally decided to go for it without knowing exactly how it would unfold. After transitioning from a corporate career into full-time art in her late 50s, Catherine opens up about the very real four-year struggle to make income from her work, the turning point that came from hiring a coach, and how surrounding herself with a creative community changed everything. We also talk collage, creative retreats, the joy of “trash raccoon” collecting, women traveling solo, and why these experiences feel like such a gift to women craving connection, creativity, and courage. If you’ve ever thought “maybe someday” about your art—this episode is your nudge. 2 Takeaway Tips You don’t have to know the how—just honour the pull. Creative dreams don’t disappear. If they keep returning, they’re asking for your attention. Growth accelerates when you stop doing it alone. A coach and a creative community can fast-track clarity, confidence, and momentum—especially in a creative career transition. 👉 Be sure to check out Catherine’s collage course and her free creative offer on her website.

    50 min
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4.6
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About

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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