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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 HERECome 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.-BrandiWe 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

Can you decide to change your life? The answer is yes. You just have to take the big dream and break it into small steps. - Brandi What happens when you decide the life you’re living doesn’t have to be the life you stay in? Lauren Springer shares the brave journey of moving her family from Seattle to Lisbon and the lessons she learned about taking big, overwhelming dreams and turning them into small, manageable steps. We talk motherhood, starting over in a new country, creative habits, sketchbooks, and giving yourself permission to experiment without needing everything to be perfect. Lauren’s story is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the biggest changes in our lives begin with one small decision. 1. Make the big dream smaller. Big life changes can feel completely overwhelming when you look at the whole picture. Instead, focus on the next small step that moves you in the direction you want to go. 2. Give yourself a playground, not another expectation. Lauren’s approach to sketchbooks is a great reminder that creativity doesn’t always need to produce something “good.” Use the space to experiment, play with colour and composition, and let the ideas develop. If Lauren’s brave leap from Seattle to Lisbon inspires you to dream a little bigger, come make your own brave leap with us in Portugal. Join us and Uptrek on the Algarve coast in June 2027 for our Portraits Without Fear retreat: a week to step away from the everyday, reconnect with your creativity, and give yourself permission to imagine what’s next. And here’s the amazing part: Lauren and her partner actually did a spreadsheet of the top places in the world, they landed on Portugal! And now we are going there Learn more about our Art Retreat HERE

Your past doesn’t have to stay in the past. It can become part of the art, the stories and the spaces you create. This episode is a very special West Coast artist visit with Samantha Agar and Rose Currie. We had the honour of stepping inside Samantha’s stunning studio and home on Vancouver Island, a space so inspiring you’ll want to go home and make art all day. Samantha shares how her upbringing and family history have shaped her creative life. We also explore the incredible story of her grandfather, who was part of the Great Escape and documented his experiences through his artwork. It got us thinking: How does our past influence our creative futures? And how can we bring those stories, objects and pieces of our history into our creative spaces? Samantha does this beautifully throughout her home and studio. Rose Currie is also back on the podcast, sharing her honest thoughts on being an artist with ADHD (we all relate) and the creative challenges many of us experience, including the familiar emotional crash and dysphoria that can follow a conversation or social interaction. If you missed Rose’s first episode, be sure to go back and listen. And this is one episode you really want to watch. Throughout the video, Samantha takes us through her collections and shares footage of her grandfather’s artwork from New York and WWII. Seeing these pieces in the space where her own creativity is unfolding makes this conversation even more special. If this conversation inspires you to take that next brave step, I’d love to invite you to join me in Portugal for ⁠Portraits Without Fear⁠, an intimate creative retreat on the breathtaking Algarve coast. Don't hesitate, or this will pass you by...We’ll paint, explore, build confidence, and reconnect with the joy of creating alongside an incredible community of artists. Learn more about how you can be a part this transformational experience HERE   2 Takeaway Tips: Look backwards to move forwards. Explore your family stories, upbringing, places and experiences and ask how they might be influencing the artist you are becoming.Make your space tell your story. Surround yourself with the objects, artwork, memories and collections that inspire you. Your creative environment can become part of your creative practice.

Not all our best ideas come in the studio. Sometimes they find us on a walk, while reading, or sitting with a cup of tea. - Brandi Jane Chipp Art shares how ordinary objects, memories and everyday moments can become the starting point for meaningful art. From discovering a stranger’s photographs and handwriting to creating a 100 Day Project that led to the book Artful Memories, Jane talks about storytelling, consistency and paying attention to the world around us.  We talk about showing up even when you don't feel ready, creating work consistently, and giving yourself permission to step away from the studio so ideas have room to find you. 2 Tip: 1. Show up before you feel ready.  You don't have to have the answers before you begin. Put out the materials, start making and let the process lead you. This is your cue to be inspired, put yourself out there, be afraid and then do it anyway! If this conversation inspires you to take that next brave step, I’d love to invite you to join us in Portugal for ⁠Portraits Without Fear⁠, an intimate creative retreat on the breathtaking Algarve coast. Don't hesitate, there are only a few spots left! We’ll paint, explore, build confidence, and reconnect with the joy of creating alongside an incredible community of artists. Learn more about how you can be a part this transformational experience HERE

What if the only thing standing between you and the creative career you dream about is the courage to put yourself out there? The magic happens when you’re willing to be seen. Your vulnerability isn’t a weakness. It’s the very thing that makes your art unforgettable. - Brandi In this episode of the Colour Me Happy Podcast, I sit down with portrait artist Florence Lee for an honest conversation about finding your artistic voice, embracing imperfection, and allowing your work to evolve. Florence shares how completing the 100 Heads Challenge transformed her portrait practice and why creating volume instead of chasing perfection helped her discover a style that was unmistakably her own. This is your cue to be inspired, put yourself out there, be afraid and then do it anyway! If this conversation inspires you to take that next brave step, I’d love to invite you to join me in Portugal for Portraits Without Fear, an intimate creative retreat on the breathtaking Algarve coast. Don't hesitate, or this will pass you by...We’ll paint, explore, build confidence, and reconnect with the joy of creating alongside an incredible community of artists. Learn more and reserve your spot HERE 1. Your creative career begins the moment you let yourself be seen. You don’t have to have it all figured out before you share your work. Growth happens through showing up, being vulnerable, and trusting . 2. Every painting you share, every opportunity you say yes to, and every imperfect step forward opens the door to possibilities you could never have planned.

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.”

Sometimes the biggest creative breakthrough isn’t changing what you’re making—it’s changing the environment you’re making it in. Artist Michelle Allen joins Colour Me Happy to talk about how a move from the rainy Pacific Northwest to sunny Tucson transformed not only her quality of life but her creative energy. We explore how the people we surround ourselves with, the places we choose to live, and the experiences we seek out can shape our creativity in profound ways. Michelle shares insights on building a life that inspires you, embracing new creative pursuits, and finding joy in the everyday. It’s a conversation about creativity, connection, and why sometimes a change of scenery can change everything. Make Memories with us in Portugal! Learn more HERE 2 Takeaway Tips: Design your environment for creativity.The people, places, and routines around you either drain your energy or fuel it. Pay attention to what inspires you and intentionally create more of it in your life.Seek inspiration beyond your main medium.Whether it’s pottery, baking sourdough, thrifting, or travel, exploring other creative outlets can refill your creative well and bring fresh ideas back into your work.