Chandralekha Dubey

Rachna Singh, Editor, The Wise Owl, talks to Chandralekha Dubey, an artist who specializes in mandala dot painting. Chandralekha’s work is inspired by animals and Nature, and she uses acrylics paints and textures to give an added dimension to her work. Her work has been exhibited in prestigious galleries across the globe. The Wise Owl connected with her at The World Art Dubai.

 

Thank you, Chandralekha, for taking time out to talk with The Wise Owl. It was indeed a pleasure to meet you and see your wonderful work at World art Dubai.

 

 

RS: Your mandala paintings often feature majestic creatures like the phoenix, lion, or butterfly—each symbolic in its own way. How do you decide which creature or element to incorporate into a piece? Do they reflect something personal, like a state of mind or experience at the time, or do you choose based on the energy you want the canvas to radiate?

 

CD: My portrayal of majestic creatures are often inspired by my feelings or a phase of my life. I  was going through a difficult time with chronic pain and health issues that went for a year, and it was during that time I painted a phoenix. It helped me release  all my feelings and pain as  I was going through  treatment and I knew I will recover from this , just like a phoenix rises from the ashes again. The Lion Family was created for my daughter who is a big fan of the ‘The Lion King’. And most of the mandalas are just reflection of my happy space and energy.

 

 

RS: You describe dot mandala painting as meditative—a practice that echoes mindfulness and presence. How has engaging so deeply with this art form shaped your inner landscape or spiritual journey? Do you find that your art is a way to connect with something greater—perhaps nature, the self, or even a collective consciousness?

 

CD: As a person who practices yoga and meditation, I can definitely say painting mandalas are meditative because it combines focused attention , repetitive motion and creative expression- all of which helps quiet the mind. Sometimes as I paint, I enter a ‘flow’ state where time slips away and I am fully immersed which is deeply calming and restorative. In my artwork Yogini, I tried to capture that meditative state of mind.

 

 

RS: You believe that ‘every canvas is a journey on its own.’ Could you take us into one of those journeys—perhaps a painting that challenged or transformed you in some way? Was there a moment of creative struggle, breakthrough, or revelation while working on a particular piece that stayed with you long after the painting was finished?

 

CD: As a self taught artist, my art journey has been a big learning through trial and error. I do not like to plan a lot and just go with the flow on the canvas and keep learning through my mistakes which can be challenging. Mandalas and dot paintings are very time consuming and meticulous art form where every dot has to be of exact same size to maintain the symmetry, hence they are usually made on small canvas  as there is less scope of error. However, I like the challenge of making big dot paintings and I remember wanting to paint butterfly on a 160*140 cm canvas and I just could not get the design right. I had to improvise and keep trying some new pattern and include brush swooshes and I felt I had bit more than I can chew. But, the end result was astonishingly beautiful and every bit of creative struggle made me push my limits with this painting. The huge size made it physically exhausting to work with however, not only was the painting sold in it’s first exhibition at World Art Dubai 2024, this artwork received ‘Masterful mind awards 2025’ by Circle foundation of Arts, France and it helped put the dot painting on an international level being the only Indian artist to be published in the masterful mind of the year magazine!

 

 

RS: Edward Hopper’s quote—“If you could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint”—seems to mirror your own approach. How do you see the relationship between verbal language and visual expression in your work?
 

CD: when visitors see phoenix, they relate to the intensity in its eyes, when they see butterfly they relate to the joy and beauty. When they see Yogini, they can relate to the subconscious state without even reading the description of the artwork or asking me what was the inspiration behind the painting . The feedback and reactions of the people have given me proof that the mind and soul connects with the visuals without any interference or explanation. More often than not, it brings back a memory, feeling or it just puts a smile  on their face.

 

 

RS: Dot mandala art demands intense patience and precision. What is it about the meticulous, time-consuming process that speaks to you? And how do you keep your creative energy flowing through the repetition of thousands of dots?

​

CD: I have tried different art forms- landscapes, portraits, sketching with charcoal etc but every artist eventually figures out their signature style , something that reflects their personality and feelings.

​

When I paint mandalas, time softens. The world fades, and I’m left with the circle—my sacred space. Each dot, each line, is a breath; a heartbeat. I don’t just paint patterns—I trace my thoughts, my emotions, my quiet prayers into the design.

​

There’s a love I can’t quite explain for the tiniest details. It’s in the precision, the patience, the silence between brush strokes. The smaller the detail, the more present I feel. It’s where chaos finds order, and my inner world finds peace.

​

This art isn't just something I do—it’s something I become. A mandala begins with intention and ends with transformation. And in between, I find myself.

 

 

RS: You use acrylics and textures to give dimension to your work. How do you envision the viewer interacting with your work—not just visually, but on a sensory or emotional level?

 

CD: It is actually very rewarding when I see people ask me if I have stuck beads over my paintings, or used some tool like cones to make the 3D dots and they are all surprised when I tell them its acrylic paint. The next question comes- ‘can I touch the dots’ and it gives them the sensory experience especially with my mandalas on wooden board. After years of practice, hits and misses, I have now the expertise to mix different types of acrylic paint- heavy body, flowing paint with pouring mediums and water to give my paintings the textured 3D effects.

 

 

RS: You mention that your childhood art continues to influence your current creations. Is there a memory or early drawing that still lives with you today or inspires the themes you revisit?

 

CD: Now that I reflect on it, I remember I used to paint birds on small handkerchiefs with fabric paint and sew the hem  as a birthday gift for my mother every year. During my childhood, I always used to make cards or paint on table cloth, napkins- whatever I could find to gift my mother who was an amazing artist herself and master in stitching, sewing and knitting.. I still remember we had only one painting in our house, a cross-stitched butterfly made on stiff matte and framed in our dining room and years later I made my first  biggest dot mandala painting -  of a butterfly, inspired by my mother’s work

 

 

RS: Art often touches people in unexpected ways. Have there been moments where someone responded to your work with an insight or emotion that surprised you?
 

CD: There have been many, but the most recent interaction that I can recall, was while describing my liner art painting called – The Last Horn. The artwork reflected the 50 million year old journey of rhinoceros through the ice-age, age of exploration and the roman empire. When I told a visitor from Kenya that white male rhino was now extinct, she could not believe it and said she felt goosebumps listening to their tale through history. She actually googled about the topic and had tears in her eyes. Even if I was able to bring awareness to one person about the plight of endangered species of the world, as an animal lover and an artist I feel content that my message got through to people.

 

Thank you Chandralekha, for talking with The Wise Owl about your art and creativity. We wish you the very best in all your creative endeavours.