Colour Me Happy! - By Brandi Hofer Studios

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 su...

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...

“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 o...

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 thinkin...

"Maybe this is all I can do right now—and that has to be enough." We’re coming to you from a small hockey town in the middle of nowhere Canada—snowdrifts piled high, tiny coffee shops keeping us warm, and, yes… a lot of hockey. We didn’t bring all our podcast gear. We didn’t bring perfection. What we brought was gratitude. Gratitude for you! For giving us a little slice of your time, you...

If you’re craving a dose of holiday nuttiness — the kind that makes you feel seen in the chaos — this quick episode is for you. Brandi is joined once again by the endlessly patient and wonderfully crafty Jacky Lindsay of So Bright Home . Together, they chat about DIY holiday magic, navigating burnout, and the importance of carving out real alone time this season. Whether it’s reading by the fire,...

Stop waiting to feel ‘good enough.’ Start now, learn as you go, and let the messy, wild ride shape you. - Brandi Be ready for some unfiltered talk on perimenopause, womanhood, and the bold reality of building a business from scratch. In this episode, Brandi Hofer sits down with designer and contractor Desirae Blanchette of Chevco Contracting and Design (Maidstone, SK) for a conversation that is no...

Here’s a clean, emotional, on-brand set: title, quote, description, and two takeaway tips — written in your warm, empathetic, creative voice with zero emojis. “Your life doesn’t have to be calm for your creativity to matter. You just have to show up anyway.” - Brandi In this heartfelt conversation, Brandi Hofer and artist Jenna Deibel get honest about what it truly looks like to make art inside a...

Every artist has a weird habit or two — sometimes that’s exactly where the magic starts. — Brandi   This week on Colour Me Happy Podcast  The Strange, The Creative, The Brilliant: You’re getting two incredible artists for the price of one ! We sat down with Rene  Romero Schuler and Taylor Smith , two creatives with wildly different processes but surprisingly overlapping gallery journeys. From the...

Being a Woman today changes how we measure success —it’s no longer just about how much you work or accolades, it’s about creating a life that feels full and aligned.” — Brandi In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Toronto-based artist and teacher Christine Kim to talk about the beautiful chaos of balancing motherhood, teaching, and creative practice. Christine opens up about finding time to c...

My studio is a good messy — it’s where creativity lives, where I can spread out, make mistakes, and keep growing. — Brandi   This week on Colour Me Happy Podcast  Creating a “Good Messy” Space with Nicki Traikos In this cozy and honest episode of Colour Me Happy , artist and creative entrepreneur Nicki Traikos shares how her once-living-room evolved into a thriving studio space — the birthplace of...

Brandi sits down with New York–based installation artist Laurie Shapiro , whose vibrant, immersive worlds remind us that creativity is as unique as a fingerprint. Together, they explore the creative process, the idea of “stealing like an artist” (as Austin Kleon says), and why true originality isn’t about being first — it’s about being authentic . Laurie shares how she builds her layered, colourfu...

You don’t need permission to create — just start. The act of doing is where the magic begins.” — Brandi Ever feel too intimidated to start? Whether it’s a blank canvas, a new creative path, or putting yourself out there online — we’ve all been there. In this inspiring chat with artist and educator Andrea Nelson , we talk about overcoming assumptions, letting go of inhibitions, and just beginning ....

If You’re Going to Compete, Compete with Yourself — with Artist Megan Roy Make bad art. Be cringe. Just keep showing up — because your only goal is getting better.  —  Brandi In this inspiring episode of  Colour Me Happy , artist and illustrator  Megan Roy  joins host  Brandi Hofer  for a heart-to-heart about creativity, self-improvement, and the courage it takes to keep showing up. Megan shares h...

When you build a strong foundation, everything else will follow — your confidence, your pricing, and your creative freedom.— Brandi Hofer In this empowering episode, Calgary-based artist and designer Rachael Lyon joins Brandi to talk about what it really means to know your worth as an artist. With a background in illustration and event management, Rachael shares how she unexpectedly transitioned i...

“Being nervous is the same as being excited—it’s just energy. When we flip it, we open the door to growth, creativity, and possibility.” — Brandi In this inspiring conversation with artist Jodi Miller, we unpack the power of nervouscited —that buzzy feeling of nerves and excitement mixed together—and how reframing it can help us learn, grow, and trust our instincts. Jodi shares her journey of goin...

When we treat social media as a connector instead of a comparison game, it becomes one of the most powerful tools we have as creatives.   – Brandi   This week on Colour Me Happy Podcast   I sit down with Alli K Design to hear how she built a thriving public art platform and business while staying true to her creative voice. We dive into the positive side of social media —how shifting your outlook...

Every ‘no’ became a chance to create my own ‘yes'.   – Brandi  Rejection doesn’t have to be the end of your creative journey — it can be the spark that lights something even bigger. In this inspiring conversation, I sit down with artist, author, and curator Alexis Marie Chute, who turned early rejection from art galleries into a thriving career of building opportunities for others. From launch...

Sometimes the best way forward is to return to what called to your heart in the first place. – Brandi On this special mentorship episode of Colour Me Happy , artist Andrea Mondragón joins us to share her journey of reconnecting with the childlike joy and play that first drew her to art. Together, we explore how to lean into creative curiosity, how playfulness can become a powerful guide in shaping...

Your creativity will always be there for you—ever evolving, transforming, and reminding you of your strength. – Brand   This week on Colour Me Happy Podcast in this inspiring episode, Brandi Hofer sits down with Hannah Ricke—artist, social worker, and the creative mind behind Flock of Beasts . Hannah shares her journey from earning a master’s in clinical social work to becoming a full-time artist,...

You learn more diving in, making mistakes and doing the work!  – Brandi This week on Colour Me Happy Podcast   Artist Jenny Johnson joins host Brandi Hofer on the Colour Me Happy podcast for a real-talk conversation about making art while working full-time. Jenny shares her journey from pulling shifts at East Side Mario’s to fund art school, to building her practice around a busy schedule. She and...

Your words have power, own your creative voice. Say it, write, it, walk it, feel it and see it all come to life! – Brandi   Brandi sits down with Shirley Yang Crutchfield, an artist whose breathtaking 24-karat gold leaf work blends centuries-old techniques with a fiercely modern voice. Together, they dive into the balancing act of motherhood and creativity, the role of supportive partners, and the...

You don’t need a formal art education to build a meaningful, thriving creative life—you just need connection, curiosity, and the courage to begin. – Brandi   This week on Colour Me Happy Podcast   Paint, Play, and Guacamole: A Creative Life with Rosso In this fun and candid episode, Brandi Hofer chats with Rosso of Rosso Art School about her inspiring journey from a busy life in London to a quiete...

Burnout doesn’t mean you’re broken — it means it’s time to listen.” – Brandi  In this insightful episode of Colour Me Happy , Brandi Hofer chats with South African artist Jo Roets about navigating the highs and lows of full-time creative life. They explore the reality of burnout, why setting boundaries is key to staying inspired, and how self-care isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity.  Jo Roets is a...

Brandi sits down with Pennylane Shen—art consultant, advisor, and founder of Dazed & Confucius—for an honest, insightful, and energizing conversation. Artists, this is a must-listen. From navigating burnout to discovering your true art direction, Penny Lane shares real advice from her experience in the industry, what galleries are really looking for, and how to stay inspired when the spark fad...