An Evening with Delaine Le Bas
Processing an Evening with Delaine Le Bas
Nearly a month has passed since I attended an artist talk by Delaine Le Bas at BEAF Arts exhibition 'You're Not Alone: Women in Art' , and I’m still unpacking its impact. I process things slowly and deeply, and her words continue to resonate.
What struck me first was Le Bas’ authenticity. Growing up in a Romani Gypsy family where girls weren’t expected to pursue careers—let alone art—she faced barriers early on. Yet, as is often the case with children who overcome adversity, she had one figure who believed in her: her grandmother. That support was the seed for her creative life.
“I try and express myself in many ways,” Le Bas says. “I want to show people how it feels to be ‘othered’ and where we fit when we are not part of a community.” Delaine Le Bas
When speaking about her process, Le Bas shared that she has a constant stream of ideas, which she records in a personal “book.” I connected with this, as my own sketchbooks and journals serve a similar role. Some of her ideas evolve into vast, symbolic installations—works that feel both vulnerable and courageous in how they externalize her deepest unconscious world. It made me reflect on how often I keep mine more hidden.
Le Bas also spoke about the ebb and flow of creativity: after intense periods of inspiration, she sometimes needs to spend a whole day in bed, emptied of ideas. Yet, from that rest, clarity emerges, and old ideas find new life. Listening to her, I was reminded of Clarissa Pinkola Estés’ Creative Fire and the myth of Persephone’s descent into the underworld. Just as Persephone retreats into the darkness before re-emerging into spring, the creative cycle requires descent, stillness, and even exhaustion before renewal. It’s a rhythm that reminds us that rest isn’t a break from creativity—it’s part of it.
I often feel the urge to chase every idea, along with the frustration of not having the time or space to do so. Creativity supports me in different ways: through my journals and sketchbooks, where I explore archetypal symbols and unconscious themes, and through my observational drawing/painting, which grounds me in the present and offers a calming flow state. These two modes feel like opposites, yet together they create balance. My process may seem messy and unclear, but writing this has shown me that it’s more integrated than I realised—a whole made of many parts.
