Colour Me Happy! - By Brandi Hofer Studios

“Every artist has a story where they didn't charge enough, the question is whether you let it break you or build you.” - Brandi
Who knew we were practically neighbours? In this episode, I sit down with Canadian artist Joshua Harnack (Some of you might know him as the guy who got a storage locker with 6000 paintings in it) from Edmonton, and we get real about what it actually looks like to start an art career.
We talk about the scrappy early days — Craigslist jobs, frat houses, popcorn ceilings, and charging $300 for a mural that probably should’ve cost ten times that. Josh shares how his very first mural in Vancouver (yes… in a University of British Columbia frat house) ended up costing him nearly all the profit in supplies and mistakes — but also opened the door to his next, better-paying commission.
We dive into managing commissions wisely (hello boundaries), using inquiry forms instead of chasing every opportunity, and embracing the “feast and famine” rhythm that so many creatives quietly navigate. I also share how I’ve been bringing art into the hockey rink, because in Alberta, if you can’t beat the hockey culture… you pack your art bag and join it.
This one is about resilience, humility, learning the hard way, and trusting that even the messy jobs are building something bigger.

Two Takeaway Tips
1. Build a commission system that protects your creativity.
Use inquiry forms. Only take projects when your schedule allows. Not every opportunity deserves a “yes.” Sustainable creativity requires structure.

2. Your early mistakes are tuition — not failure.
Undercharging, wrong materials, awkward jobs — they’re part of the path. The key is to learn fast, adjust, and keep going.

We Came for the Art, We Stayed for the Sisterhood

We came for the art… and left with community, connection, and conversations we didn’t even know we needed.

In this episode, Rachael Ashe and I talk about the power of routine and how tiny daily habits build a sustainable creative practice — especially when life is already full. We dive into discipline over inspiration, internal deadlines, and why tidying your studio still counts as showing up.

We also talk about strength training, perimenopause, bone density, and how women are finally having honest conversations about what’s happening in our bodies. What started as art night turned into real talk — about ocular migraines, muscle mass, motivation, and why gathering as women matters more than ever.
Because sometimes you think you’re just going to make art…
And you leave feeling seen.

Two Takeaway Tips
1. A “Stroll” Still Counts.
You don’t need a perfect two-hour studio session. Ten minutes. Cleaning brushes. Sketching badly. Lifting light weights. Showing up consistently builds identity. Discipline creates freedom.
2. Build Your Creative Circle.
Host an art night. Join a group. Start small. Being around other creatives, especially women in similar life seasons, creates support, accountability, and those healing “me too” moments that remind you you’re not alone.

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.

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.

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.