Lesley Delia

Before devoting full time to creating unique and aesthetic functional crafts, Lesley Magaril Delia, the artisan behind “Down the Road Designs”,  practiced law for over 35 years as a staff attorney and ultimately as the Executive Director of a Statewide public interest legal services program serving individuals struggling with mental health challenges.

She took her first painting class at the Art League of Long Island in the mid-1980s and subsequently studied painting privately with a local artist. During those years she reminded herself often that “down the road” she could someday retire and paint full time, satisfied that on her journey she had had used the power of the law to help make the world a better place. One day during these busy years juggling family and career, she became fascinated watching an accomplished polymer clay artist create a polymer clay cane.  She left her friend’s studio that day with some spare clay and tools and started to experiment with polymer. She was immediately seduced by this remarkable, versatile medium and set to work to understand its behavior and all of its unique properties.

Lesley retired from the practice of law in 2014 and is finally “down the road”. She refers to her current work as “claynting” … painting with polymer clay.

Since 2015 she has been giving private lessons and leading workshops and classes to introduce others to this remarkable modern artists’ medium. She has been selling her work at, among other places, the Art League of Long Island shows and  craft fairs.

Lesley is a member of the International Polymer Clay Association, the Art League of Long Island and the Long Island Craft Guild and exhibits work in their shows and galleries. She lives with her husband in Huntington, New York.