Colour Me Happy! - By Brandi Hofer Studios

When things feel overwhelming, just take the next step. Small, manageable things done every day can add up to something really big. -Brandi
This week I’m chatting with Courtney Florence, one of my mural class students who took what she learned in the class and jumped into a summer full of mural projects!
We talk about what mural work is really like behind the scenes, from giant walls and unpredictable weather to uneven surfaces, tight timelines, physical exhaustion and those moments when you’re wondering, “What did I get myself into?” Courtney even shares the story of working on a mural in Coleman until 4 a.m. while battling freezing temperatures and rain!
But underneath all of that is such a good reminder that trying something new doesn’t have to mean figuring everything out at once. You can learn, take one step, solve the next problem and keep going. And before you know it, those little steps have turned into something much bigger than you imagined.
Courtney is such a great example of what can happen when you give yourself permission to try something new, learn as you go and just keep showing up.
And if mural painting is something you’ve been curious about, you can learn more about my Mural Class HERE. Courtney is one of our students and it was so fun to hear how the class helped prepare her for the real-world experience of putting murals on walls!
2 TAKEAWAY TIPS:
Break the big thing into the next small thing. You don’t have to know how you’re going to finish the whole project. Just figure out what needs to happen next.
Trying something new gets easier once you start. You may not feel ready, but learning as you go is part of the process. Small steps, repeated consistently, can turn into something surprisingly big.

Creativity is better when you have someone to share the messy middle with. - Brandi 
This week on Colour Me Happy Podcast!  Creative friendships can be such a gift. In this episode, we talk about finding the people you can lean on, bounce ideas off, and talk to when you’re stuck because chances are, they’ve been through something similar too. Alli shares how moving from working solo to collaborating on team-based murals changed the way she worked, while we chat about the balance between making art for yourself and navigating the demands of client work.
Sometimes the best way out of a creative rut is simple: take yourself on an art date with a creative friend, try a new class, pick up a different medium, or just make something with no expectations attached.
Takeaway Tips:
Find your creative people. Have someone you can talk to about the highs, lows, weird ideas and hard seasons of making art. You don’t have to figure everything out alone.
Make creativity social again. Take a class together, go on an art date, visit a gallery, or spend an afternoon making something just for fun. Sometimes getting out of your own head is exactly what you need. To get inspired: Listen HERE
Come Home to Your Creativity! And speaking of making art together, I’m hosting a cozy Collage & Art Sale at my house! We’ll have warm apple cider, lots of creative goodness, and a chance to sit around and make something together. It’s the perfect excuse to bring a creative friend, get out of your own head and spend a little time making art just for the fun of it.Come get creative with us: $20 a Ticket

Success doesn’t have to look the same in every season of your life. Sometimes the most creative thing you can do is listen to yourself and redefine what success means to you. - Brandi
What if making art could be therapeutic, but sustaining a creative life meant learning when to push forward and when to step back?
In this episode, I sit down with Canadian artist Alexandra McLaughlin for a conversation about the messy, beautiful reality of sustaining creativity long term. We talk about how art can become a place to process life, anxiety and stress, but also why we can’t always force ourselves to create when our bodies and minds are asking for something different.
Alex shares her journey from working as a Toronto paramedic to building a full-time art practice from her home studio in Midland, Ontario.
We also get very Canadian in this episode as Alex tells me about making maple syrup straight from the trees in her own backyard.
We talk about redefining success, why a solo gallery show doesn’t have to be the ultimate goal, how our definitions of success can change through different seasons of life, and the importance of finding creative side projects that keep you curious and excited.
And Alex’s current exhibition, Close to the Water is currently on at Quest Art School + Gallery, inspired by her lifelong relationship with Georgian Bay and the way water can help us slow down, reconnect and come home to ourselves.  
2 Takeaway Tips
1. Redefine success for the season you’re in.
Success doesn’t always have to mean the biggest show, the most sales or the next major milestone. Ask yourself what a successful creative life looks like right now, and give yourself permission to let that answer change.
2. Listen when your body says slow down.
Creativity thrives when we have the capacity for it. If you’re exhausted, anxious or physically carrying the stress of your work, stepping away isn’t failure. Sometimes rest, play and a completely different creative project are exactly what allow you to come back to your art with more energy.

Sometimes it takes a moment that shakes you awake to realize you don’t want to sleepwalk through your life.-Brandi
We don’t often have writers on the podcast, so this conversation with poet and author Madalyn Hughes was such a treat. We talk about how writing and art can beautifully go hand in hand, and how creativity doesn’t always need hours of uninterrupted time to exist. Sometimes it starts with a walk, a voice note, a notebook, or simply paying attention to what is happening around you. Madalyn shares how she and her family stepped outside of the traditional path and began travelling the world full-time, and the near-death experience involving her son that became a huge wake-up call for their family.
We talk about motherhood, routine, inspiration, and why breaking a creative practice down into tiny, manageable pieces can actually help us create more.
 Let's explore together: the power of morning routines, mindset work, journaling, meditation, and the small shifts that can create meaningful change over time. If this inspires you to dream a little bigger, and do something just for you Portugal. Join us on the Algarve coast ⁠in June 2027 for our Portraits Without Fear retreat. ⁠ 
Takeaway Tips:
1. Make it ridiculously small. You don’t need an entire afternoon to create. Fifteen minutes, one page, a voice note, or a morning walk can keep the creative spark alive.
2. Let life wake you up. Inspiration is everywhere when we pay attention. Sometimes the biggest creative shift comes from stepping outside our routine and asking ourselves if the life we’re living is actually the one we want. Only a few spots left: Get back to YOU again!

Burnout...Sometimes the routine that saves you isn’t about getting more done. It’s about finally creating space to come back to yourself.
-Brandi
What happens when you realize you can’t keep living the way you’ve been living?
In this episode, art therapist Leah Guzman joins Brandi to talk about overcoming burnout, breaking free from people-pleasing, and creating routines that help you feel grounded rather than overwhelmed. Leah shares her experience of navigating a difficult season while raising young children and how seeking support, establishing boundaries, and changing her daily habits helped her begin to reconnect with herself.
Together, they explore the power of morning routines, mindset work, journaling, meditation, and the small shifts that can create meaningful change over time. They also dive into the books and ideas that have influenced their personal growth—and why sometimes a difficult season can become the beginning of something entirely new.
2 Takeaway Tips:
1. Create a routine that grounds you before the world gets your attention. Your morning routine doesn’t need to be complicated. A few intentional moments of journaling, meditation, reflection, or simply enjoying a quiet cup of coffee can help you reconnect with yourself before stepping into the demands of the day.
2. Your difficult season may be asking you to change something. Burnout, setbacks, and unexpected challenges can become opportunities to reassess your boundaries, mindset, and the life you’re building. Instead of seeing every difficult moment as a failure, ask yourself what it might be teaching you.
If this is speaking to your heart, and you're loving these chats, you should definitely think about joining us in Portugal in June 2027 in a private villa on the coast. Learn more HERE