Colour Me Happy! - By Brandi Hofer Studios

When you follow your intuition and creative flow and stay curious, the path has a way of meeting you there.
-Brandi
In this episode, I sit down with Alexis Marie Chute to talk about what it really looks like to follow your creative intuition while building a meaningful career over time. Alexis shares the power of staying devoted to your path even when it is not linear.
Alexis opens up about how batching tasks, time blocking, and protecting her focus allows her to move between projects without losing her creative energy. I bring up the importance of writing down your goals, staying a little obsessed with what you want, and trusting that the work is leading somewhere even when you cannot yet see it.
This conversation is a reminder that creativity is not about doing one thing. It is about listening closely, following what feels alive, and trusting yourself enough to keep going.
Two Takeaway TipsFollow your intuition but support it with structure by batching similar tasks and protecting focused creative time
Write your goals down and stay committed to them even if it takes years because persistence creates opportunity

Brandi and artist Ana Sneeringer explore what it really means to move through fear as an artist and a human. They talk about how shyness, anxiety, and self-doubt don’t disappear before you begin, they soften because you begin anyway. From public murals to personal breakthroughs, they share how repetition builds confidence and how fear loses its grip when you stop waiting to feel ready.
They also reflect on the shift from hiding your creativity to sharing it fully, and why your story matters just as much as the work itself. This conversation is about action over perfection, courage over certainty, and learning to trust that you don’t need to have it all figured out to start creating something meaningful.
Takeaway Tips:
Start before you feel ready. Confidence is built through doing, not before it. The fear doesn’t disappear first, it fades after repetition.

Treat your life like a role you are willing to step into. Show up as the version of yourself who already makes art, takes risks, and shares it anyway.

I thought I was messing it all up… but really, I was failing forward into the life I was meant to build.
In this episode, I sit down with Julianne Holland from Aphrodite Art School to talk about what it really looks like to build a creative life without a roadmap. From running an art school in a remote, cowboy-filled corner of Australia to creating community where there wasn’t one before, Julianne shares how “failing forward” became her greatest teacher.
We dive into trusting your creative gut, navigating a path without mentors, and embracing the messy, non-linear journey of being an artist. This conversation is a reminder that there is no perfect formula. Your path is built by showing up, taking risks, and learning as you go.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing it all wrong, this episode will reframe everything.

2 Takeaway Tips:
Reframe failure as momentum: Every misstep is actually movement. The faster you “fail,” the faster you learn what works for you.

Build where you are: You don’t need the perfect creative hub. Sometimes the most powerful communities are created in the places where nothing exists yet.

I ask myself, did I have fun making it? And do I actually love the work I put out? If yes, I can’t control how the world receives it, I just keep going and make more!
In this episode with Emily Raubenheimer, we dive into what it really takes to quiet your inner critic without letting it run your creative life. Emily shares how she reframes rejection, not as a stop sign, but as part of the long game of being an artist. From using Instagram as a safe space to build resilience, to learning how to separate true feedback from limiting criticism, she shows us how to stay connected to joy in the process even when the outside response feels unpredictable.
This conversation is a grounding reminder that your creative voice gets stronger every time you choose to keep showing up. 

2 Takeaway Tips: 
Reframe rejection by asking simple grounding questions: Did I enjoy making this? Do I actually love what I created? If yes, your job is done and the rest is not yours to control.Treat visibility like practice, not judgment. Use platforms like Instagram as a space to build your resilience muscle, and focus only on feedback from voices whose work you respect and want to grow toward.

At every level, the fear is still there: you just keep showing up anyway…You might surprise yourself!- Brandi 
Nicki, is back, because she is just the BEST! We talk about imposter syndrome and how it doesn’t disappear as you grow, but instead evolves, and how Nicki pushed through that fear when designing the cover of her newest interactive watercolour book (yes… you can actually paint inside it, which is SO fun and freeing).  
We get a little geeky about art supplies (because obviously): Getting into colour theory, composition, and how using muted tones with intentional pops of brightness can completely change how your work feels, something even Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec mastered so beautifully. 
But beyond the art… this conversation is about the magic of choosing a creative life. Start every day off for you, move your body, create, and honour your passion: The travel, the connection, the community, and how artists really do find each other and create the most meaningful experiences together.
Two Takeaways
1. Paint through the doubtImposter syndrome doesn’t mean you’re not ready — it means you care. The next level always comes with new fear… so bring it with you and create anyway. 
2. Let colour support your nervous systemMuted, earthy tones can calm and ground your work, while small pops of bright colour create focus and energy. It’s not about using more — it’s about using it with intention. 

Portrait Class with Cyantotype just DROPPED! Last Day SALE! CODE: ART30 

You can find Nicki’s new interactive watercolour book here:
👉 https://lifeidesign.com (check her shop/books section)