New Beginnings

Art Journaling for the new year

Come celebrate the joys and silver linings of the past year, and express dreams and wishes for the New Year, all in the magical pages of your art journal!

 

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New Beginnings is 59 USD / 59 EUR

LAST SEATS! Registration is closing at the end of the weekend. Join now to get lifetime access!

Click the video to see inside the class:

 
 
 

If you’re anything like me, you probably find that when life gets really busy, it’s easy to put our creative practice on the back burner, yet that’s when we need it the most, to reduce stress and show up as our best selves. 

Do you ever find that...

 
 

The holidays can be such a hectic time when you’re so busy taking care of others, organizing presents and wrapping up the year, that you don’t nurture yourself? But you know you’d feel better if you found time to create!

It’s so much easier to focus on the negative than the positive? You’re not alone! When I put my gratitude glasses on and look at the past year, it's like all the harder parts suddenly fade away.

You write New Year’s resolutions you never achieve and end up feeling bad about it? We’ve all been there! That’s why I love doing a “Word of the Year” instead! It’s so much more freeing and less prescriptive.

 
 

I believe that the holiday season should be a time to nurture your heart and soul. A little bit of creative self-care can makes such a difference, not just for you, but for your loved ones too!

 

What if...

  • you carved out some YOU time this holiday season to express and nurture your creative soul so you can show up more joyfully for others? 

  • your art journal became a sacred space for self-care to honor the big and small blessings in your life, and invite more magic to show up?

  • you could begin the new year with renewed inspiration, positive energy and dreams just waiting to come true?

Open your art journal & let’s make this holiday season a creative one!

Hi, I’m Laly Mille

To me, art journaling is more than just making art, it’s the best kind of creative self-care! I love how this beautiful practice allows me to explore two of my favorite things in a creative way:

  • Expressing gratitude for the gifts of life that bring me joy and help me grow.

  • Cultivating the dreams and wishes of my heart, which often helps them come true! 

I’ve made it a practice to close each year with an art journal page about gratitude, and then welcome the New Year with another page about my “word of the year.” This “woty” is a special word that will accompany me and bring me guidance for the next 12 months.  Every year I think I'm going to "choose" my word, but almost every time it's the word that seems to choose me!

In this class, you won’t exactly find lessons, but personal and spontaneous sessions that I’ve filmed over the years, from 2017 to 2022. I invite you to join me in the studio and get a peek at my authentic process! Every year the journey and the result are different. I hope they’ll inspire you!

what Students said:

"Something I love about Laly's classes is that you aren't just copying a teacher. You learn how to make your own original art using Laly's methods! My gratitude page I made from this class is one of my favorite paintings I have ever done! Thank you, Laly!"

— KARINE K.

“Laly, you are the best gift I have given myself in a very long time! I am completely enchanted, energized and inspired. Thank you so much!”

— MARGARET M.

“Laly’s classes each teach something different. Her approach to art journaling has changed the way I approach my own work. So often Laly’s voice is in my head, encouraging, inspiring, motivating. She is such a great teacher who inspires you to be who you are fearlessly.”

— BETSY R.

“Woty”….. what ?

Woty: “Word of the Year”. A simple, intentional practice to invite gentle guidance, focus and intention into the New Year.

The Lessons

More than lessons, I've filmed these sweet and intimate sessions over the years, and have compiled them all for you in this lovely workshop.

You can do them in whichever order inspires you, and you’ll be right by my side as I share my personal and authentic process, so you can feel inspired to discover yours!

It all begins with gratitude…

Let’s start with a sweet gratitude ritual!

Take a moment to relax, breathe, and smile! 

To get the good vibes going, I invite you to join me for  a sweet and simple gratitude ritual. I do it almost every year and all you need are two candles and something to light them.Or you can simply watch along as I light mine!

 

Year One

The Beginning Of A Beautiful Practice

The first year of my "New Beginnings" practice, I created two separate pages: one for gratitude, and one for my Word of the Year: “Home”

My woty was "home" and what's really magical is that many of the elements on this page turned into reality the following year!  We moved into a beautiful old house with tall white windows and a cute garden shed very similar to the ones on this page…

Art journaling and gratitude can both be wonderful tools to help you manifest your dreams!

 Page 1 - Gratitude Page

 

 Page 2 - Word of the year Page

 

Year two

Inviting Mindfulness

In this shorter session, you’ll see how I created a gratitude page over an existing collage background.

This gratitude page was very special to me because it was the last page I painted in my first art journal, before starting a brand new one for the new year! I did create a "woty" page that year as well, but it felt too intimate to film. Not every page is meant to be shared!

Art journaling is a personal process and I encourage you to do it just for you.

 

Year three

Art Journaling With Intention

Follow along in this much more detailed session, where I combine Gratitude and my Word of the Year into a single page, with a fun starting point using… Feng Shui!

There are so many ways to begin a page, and this time I decided to try a tool I love to use at home: the Feng Shui grid (or"Bagua"). It’s a powerful way to set intentions, take a look at every important aspect of your life, then shower each one with gratitude and good vibes.

Watch the magic unfold as you build up the layers!

 

Year four

Honoring The Little Things

Gratitude and my Word of the Year came together serendipitously to create this cozy page that oozes with good vibes! 

In this detailed, step by step session, I’ll walk you through how to gather inspiration that resonates with your “woty”, then build up the page with words, paint and images, and finally journal with your “woty”  and the two magical words “what if?…”

Then follow your heart until your page feels just right!

 

Bonus!

More pages to inspire you!

I continue with this practice every single year, and as I keep filling my journals, you’ll find additional page examples in the bonus section of the class!

In total, New Beginnings has over 2.5 hours of high-quality video lessons, including 1 sweet & simple gratitude ritual, 3 detailed, step-by-step sessions and 2 shorter sessions.

I show and explain everything in detail, and I encourage you to make the process yours and work with what you’ve got. If you've ever taken a class with me, you know I like to keep it clear and super inspiring!

The class is in English with English closed captions available.

 
 

Magical pages from the students!

 
 
 

Recommended Supplies

Below are the materials I use in the class and they’re only suggestions. I encourage you to work with whatever you already own and love!

Inside the class, you'll find a more detailed list with links.

 
 

Basic Supplies:

  • An art journal (or you can work on loose sheets of heavy watercolor or mixed media paper)

  • Matte gel medium or other glue of your choice

  • A few paint brushes in various sizes, including a flat one for collage.

  • White gesso and/or white acrylic paint

  • Acrylic paints in colors of your choice

  • Pens & pencils of your choice.

  • Water & rag

A variety of collage materials:

Don’t go buy anything fancy! Look for:

  • Neutral-colored papers / text papers such as book pages, sheet music, magazine articles… Look for inspiring themes and words!

  • Magazine pages with inspiring images

  • A few transparent papers like printed napkins, tissue, sewing pattern…

  • Other papers like junk mail, vintage ephemera, paper doilies, gift wrap, wallpaper and anything else that catches your fancy!

A few extra items you might enjoy:

  • Mark-making tools like bubble wrap, stencils & stamps

  • Inks: acrylic and/or alcohol inks

  • Watersoluble pencils or crayons (Neocolor 2, Stabilo All)

  • Permanent pens & markers (Pitt Artist, Posca)

  • Spray bottle

  • Craft heatgun to dry your pages

Your Guide
for this creative journey

Happy Holidays! I’m Laly and I'm so glad you’re here!

I’m a mixed media artist from France, and I’m here to help you turn your creativity into a fulfilling, soul-nurturing practice.

The beautiful energy of gratitude is one of the key ingredients that make the holiday season so magical. When you take stock of all the gifts, big and small, that you’ve received month after month, and when you find the silver lining in difficult times too, you realize how much is possible, no matter what.

It’s time for a new beginning!

 You may have seen me in

 
Laly Mille in her art studio sitting at table with pink laptop.
 
 

 Your Questions Answered

If you don’t find an answer below, don’t hesitate to reach out by email at support@lalymille.com. We'll do our best to help!

 

I've never tried art journaling or mixed media before. I can't even draw a straight line! Can I really do this class?

Absolutely! Art journaling is super freeing and forgiving, and you don’t need any special talent or drawing skills to enjoy this beautiful practice! In this class, we do “mixed media” art journaling, which means that you can use any techniques and supplies you’re most comfortable with, and incorporate images through collage. I’ will guide you through all the basics and as we work with plenty of layers, you’ll see that any “mistakes” can always be fixed or covered up. Art journaling might be just what you need to fully embrace your creativity!

I don’t have a lot of art supplies. Will I need to spend a lot of money on a journal and supplies?

No! You can definitely make beautiful art even if you’re not buying premium art supplies. You’ll need a few paints and I really recommend matte gel medium as a glue, but other than that, I encourage you to use what you’ve got and go on a scavenger hunt for collage materials like magazines, old books and reclaimed papers. And if you don’t have an art journal, you can absolutely create your pages on loose sheets of heavy watercolor or mixed media paper.

I’m an experienced artist. Will there be anything I can learn from this class?

Absolutely! No matter if you’re already into art journaling or not, New Beginnings is a wonderful opportunity to renew your inspiration, loosen up and feel more free, while making art that’s more unique and meaningful than ever. This class is all about taking time for YOU, to relax, rediscover and reconnect to the light of your creative soul.

  • First, make sure to add laly@lalymille.com, and lalymille@c.kajabimail.net to your email contacts, to make sure that messages for the class safely reach your inbox.

    You’ll first receive a confirmation email as soon as you sign up.

    Then you’ll receive a Welcome email with your login instructions shortly after registration.

    Login instructions will be sent to the email you used during registration. If you need to update your contact email after check-out, you can do so by clicking on the "preferences" link at the bottom of any of our emails or by contacting us at support@lalymille.com

    If it's the first time you’re taking one of my classes, you’ll be prompted to create a password for your account. If you’re a returning student, the class will be automatically added to your existing member account, provided that you’ve used the same email address when registering.

  • You can check the price conversion with online tools such as xe.com. It fluctuates slightly from day to day. You'll see the correct price in your own currency at checkout on Paypal or Stripe.

  • Because these are digital classes with immediate access to all content, all sales are final and refunds are not offered.

    Before registering, please make sure that your internet connection and device allow you to smoothly stream high-resolution videos online. The videos are not downloadable, and we are not responsible for individual technical issues related to your internet connection, browser, device, or software configuration.

    We encourage you to carefully review our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy before signing up.

  • How do I know if a class is the right fit for me?

    I’m a self-taught artist and certified creativity coach, and I teach in a heart-centered, non-academic way. In my classes, you’ll see me creating in real time while being gently guided to explore your own inner and outer creative world. My classes are designed to help you connect more deeply with your most authentic creative voice.

    The lessons include many of my personal techniques, some learned over the years and shared in my own way, others discovered through experimentation, intuition, and happy accidents.

    I also share creative tips and gentle strategies to help you develop a meaningful practice, move through creative blocks, and expand your comfort zone with curiosity and kindness.

    To know whether a class is the right fit for you, I encourage you to trust your intuition. If something about it sparks your curiosity, feels exciting, comforting, inspiring, or deeply resonant, then it is likely a beautiful fit for your creative journey.

    On the other hand, if you are looking primarily for highly technical instruction, academic-style teaching, detailed critique, or professional certification, then my classes may not be the best fit for your expectations.

    My teaching style includes intuition, symbolism, mindfulness, and occasional playful creative rituals or oracle cards for inspiration. If these approaches are not your cup of tea, you may prefer a different learning environment.

    If you are unsure, I warmly encourage you to begin with one of my free lessons to experience my teaching style before registering for a paid class.

    Please note that, due to the digital nature of the classes and immediate access to content, refunds are not offered after registration.

  • My classes are e-courses, hosted online, and members get an individual, private account to access all their classes on my teaching platform.

    All classes are self-study and self-paced. They’re not academic classes. There are no assignments to submit, no grades, no schedule, no certificates of completion, no live conferences. There’s no schedule to comply with, no “catching up” or “falling behind”, ever. They’re simply a space of freedom and creativity for you to explore and enjoy.

    Most classes have lifetime access (as per our terms of service, "lifetime" means for the lifetime of the program). The videos are pre-recorded, so you can watch them at your own pace, whenever you want, and as many times as you wish. It’s up to you to find the rhythm that suits you best. Make time regularly to complete your course. It’s a gift you’re giving yourself!

  • For most of my classes, you get lifetime access to the classroom and videos. "Lifetime" technically means for the lifetime of the program. If we were to retire a course (which so far has never happened), we’d give you several months' notice so you have plenty of time to complete the lessons. You can watch the videos within the classroom as often and as many times as you wish.

    To protect the integrity of our content (and all the work that went into creating it) the videos are not downloadable. Therefore, before signing up, please make sure that your internet connection allows you to smoothly stream high-resolution videos online. Refunds will not be made after registration.

  • Yes. We have a private community forum within the classroom site where I check in once a week to answer questions and see what you’ve shared! Of course, I also do my best to offer as much information as possible within the class videos, text and other resources. Don’t hesitate to watch twice and pause the videos! The other participants will also be able to help you.

    Please keep in mind that the classroom site is the place where all the teaching takes place. I won’t answer individual questions by email or on social media. The Classroom Community Forum is accessible directly from within the menu of the classes.

  • Of course! We have the most vibrant, positive and encouraging online community, and we can't wait to welcome you!

    You can share photos of what you create and connect with others in the Classroom Community Forum within the classroom site.

    We also have Instagram hashtags to help participants find each other on this platform.

 

A summary of what you’ll get

2.5 hours of detailed videos with my best creative tips.

You’ll be right by my side as I share my authentic art journaling process, as well as my thought process and inspiration as I create, even the moments when I get stuck!

As a bonus, you’ll also get access to more and more inspiration, as I continue this yearly practice and add pictures or quick videos of any new pages I create!

My self-taught artist roots mean you won’t find any dry or technical art language here!

I have a heart-centered, non-academic teaching style, perfect for beginners all the way to experienced artists. The techniques I share are super forgiving: everything is always fixable! I encourage you to relax, let go of expectations, play, try new things and trust your intuition. This class is all about your own pleasure and creative fulfillment.

Get ready to go on a creative journey!

If you’re new, returning to art after a break or just need a boost of inspiration, this class will be your beacon of light. My hope is that it will give you techniques and inspiration to awaken your imagination and re-spark your creative fire!

And with lifetime access, you can revisit the class every year to create new pages, and come back anytime for a sweet dose of creative self-care..

Feel part of a creative community.

When you join you'll get access to our private community forum right within the classroom site, where I check in every week.

We’re a lovely tribe where you’ll be welcome just as you are. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and share what you create, the other participants and I will support you!