Colour Me Happy! - By Brandi Hofer Studios

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.

“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.

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.

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.

Before we were busy, we were dreamers. Creativity is how we find our way back.
- Heather
What if the artist you’re searching for has been there all along?
In this episode of Colour Me Happy, we’re joined by Joyful Living Counselling to share the heart behind our 2027 Portugal Creative Retreat. Together, we explore expressive arts therapy, rediscovering a sense of play, and reconnecting with the version of ourselves that dreamed freely before life became so busy.
Set along the breathtaking coastline of Lagos, Portugal, this unforgettable retreat with Uptrek is about so much more than making art. It’s about remembering who you are, building confidence through creativity, and embracing powerful beliefs like, I can create. I can do this. I can make art. I can be who I am.
Whether you’re coming on your own or with friends, you’ll be welcomed into a supportive community where meaningful friendships are formed, creativity comes alive, and joy is rediscovered.
Learn more and join us HERE
Takeaway Tips:
Create from curiosity, not perfection. Play is often where your most authentic creativity begins.
Your creative voice is still there. Sometimes all it takes is the right environment and supportive people to help you believe, “I can create.”