This work is part of the series 'The Alchemy of Dreams'.
The series is inspired by the dreams in life, daring to live your legend, Alchemy, ‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho, making air castles come true, about persistence, grit, faith, the soul of the world, the birth of dreams, Dutch skies and dunes. 

The Dutch skies are used as a metaphor for the dreams. Dreams we would like to achieve in life exist is our mind, airy and light with no weight, like a cloud, but when we envision them and live them they feel and look real, like the clouds seem to have this vast volume. But only if they succeed on earth, when they are born on earth, they become reality in our lives.  Van de Graaf believes all the dreams in the lives of people, either small or big of nature, will contribute in creating a better and more inspiring world. 

In this series Van de Graaf started with writing his poems before the process of creating his study sketches. They form a direct secondary source of inspiration for the works. 

This series is staged in the dunes in and near Scheveningen (The Hague, the Netherlands), very close to where his studio is situated.

 “For those air castles becoming true, giving birth through the soul on earth, letting the heart swim in peaceful waters.”  

Let the Flowers in Your Heart Bloom

 The series is inspired by the dreams in life, daring to live your legend, Alchemy, ‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho, making air castles come true, about persistence, grit, faith, the soul of the world, the birth of dreams, Dutch skies and dunes. 

 The Dutch skies are used as a metaphor for the dreams. Dreams we would like to achieve in life exist is our mind, airy and light with no weight, like a cloud, but when we envision them and live them they feel and look real, like the clouds seem to have this vast volume. But only if they succeed on earth, when they are born on earth, they become reality in our lives.  Van de Graaf believes all the dreams in the lives of people, either small or big of nature, will contribute in creating a better and more inspiring world. 

 In this series Van de Graaf started with writing his poems before the process of creating his study sketches, the works are closely inspired by them. 

 This series is staged in the dunes in and near Scheveningen (The Hague, the Netherlands), very close to where his studio is situated. 

 “For those air castles becoming true, giving birth through the soul on earth, letting the heart swim in peaceful waters.”

The Alchemy of Dreams

The series is inspired by the dreams in life, daring to live your legend, Alchemy, ‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho, making air castles come true, about persistence, grit, faith, the soul of the world, the birth of dreams, Dutch skies and dunes. 

 The Dutch skies are used as a metaphor for the dreams. Dreams we would like to achieve in life exist is our mind, airy and light with no weight, like a cloud, but when we envision them and live them they feel and look real, like the clouds seem to have this vast volume. But only if they succeed on earth, when they are born on earth, they become reality in our lives.  Van de Graaf believes all the dreams in the lives of people, either small or big of nature, will contribute in creating a better and more inspiring world. 

 In this series Van de Graaf started with writing his poems before the process of creating his study sketches, the works are closely inspired by them. 

 This series is staged in the dunes in and near Scheveningen (The Hague, the Netherlands), very close to where his studio is situated. 

 “For those air castles becoming true, giving birth through the soul on earth, letting the heart swim in peaceful waters.”

Le Coeur, la Patrie des Rêves

The series is inspired by the dreams in life, daring to live your legend, Alchemy, ‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho, making air castles come true, about persistence, grit, faith, the soul of the world, the birth of dreams, Dutch skies and dunes. 

The Dutch skies are used as a metaphor for the dreams. Dreams we would like to achieve in life exist is our mind, airy and light with no weight, like a cloud, but when we envision them and live them they feel and look real, like the clouds seem to have this vast volume. But only if they succeed on earth, when they are born on earth, they become reality in our lives.  Van de Graaf believes all the dreams in the lives of people, either small or big of nature, will contribute in creating a better and more inspiring world. 

In this series Van de Graaf started with writing his poems before the process of creating his study sketches, the works are closely inspired by them. 

This series is staged in the dunes in and near Scheveningen (The Hague, the Netherlands), very close to where his studio is situated.

“For those air castles becoming true, giving birth through the soul on earth, letting the heart swim in peaceful waters.” 

The Birth of Air Castles

This painting is inspired by the crossroad at the ‘Church of the Guardian Angel’ in New York City. The painting is about crossroads in life, in both daily life as in spiritual life, about how these two can come together and the difficulty of integrating spiritual life into daily life. It discusses moments during life when you are confronted with difficulties and you can experience guidance of the spiritual world, of the angels by your side.

The Crossroads of Life

This work is inspired by the journey of life, where mankind is trying to regain the connection to the soul, to move closer to the light. This process of trail and error is the subject of this work, where on the left Ego prevails, is trapping us, moving towards the Self which is more gentle and less intense, before getting to the pure connection of mankind with the soul on the right. This philosophy of the different stages of the connection with the soul is inspired by Dante's La Divina Comedia

In this work Van de Graaf is further exploring his mark making which is charged with meaning, representing a deeper (subconscious) feeling and desire. The mark making should form a language which speaks directly to the heart and soul, not only the ratio and the mind. Van de Graaf is interested to incorporate the connection with music into his painting, like the mark making is forming a sort of music play, moving from pianissimo to forte, from the bass and drums to the cello and piano. 

On the 17th of March 2022 Van de Graaf wrote a poem inspired by the painting (translated by the artist from the Dutch original) 

 Permeated, distorted, 
Besieged, 
Enveloped by darkness, 
Fallen, 
in deep potholes, dug by the ego. 
Ran away, 
Bounced back, fought, won, 
A ray of light in the Soul. 
Opened, soothed, the return to the Soul, 
Along the paths of life, 
the longing to the light becoming the compass. 
Mountains becoming rocks and turn into the finest gems, 
in face of the Soul, 
Which lives in the House of God. 
Secure under the blanket of the reflection of the moon on the sea, 
in the night, 
When the silence make the Angels sing, 
guiding the Souls to the Light, 
Where the tones resolve all the matter, 
till the nothing is everything. 

Stories of the Ego, Self, Soul

The work is part of the series 'Stories of Transition' (2020 - 2021)

This work is inspired by the strands of the past that keep us connected to negative situations of the past and old patterns and saboteurs of our being, which are obstructing the freedom in our lives. These strands are pulling you down, misleading the potential of your inner strength and are clouding our visions. Only by cutting off the strands piece by piece will remove and release the dark cloud that obstruct our lives.  Another inspiration of the painting is a part of the Aramese Jesus prayer; 6. Loose the cords of mistakes binding us, as we release the strands we hold of others’ guilt.  

Strands That Tie Us to the Dark Clouds in Life

The work is part of the series 'Stories of Transition' (2020 - 2021)

This painting is inspired by breaking points in life, moments that often define the direction you are going to in life. Breaking points are often a consequence of sudden intense occurrences, situations or outbursts in life which can feel as if hit by a thunderbolt. 

 On the 30th of November 2021 Van de Graaf wrote a poem inspired by the painting (translated by the artist from the Dutch original) 

 The dark clouds press, 
Drive me to the edge, from the path. 
To break, to break off. 
A bolt as necessity, 
to save the lifeline of my soul. 
Carried by the Light, 
letting the clouds dissolve, 
To move on into spring which is at once autumn, 
I carry on, alone, into the silence of the path. 
Only hope, that the openings of your authentic wisdom, 
will give you the genuine eyes, which lead you to my way,
 and able us to continue together. 

Lifeline of the Soul

The work is part of the series 'Stories of Transition' (2020 - 2021) 

This painting is inspired by the path of life, to try to grow as a person and to move closer towards the soul. Van de Graaf has also been inspired by the alchemists (as described in The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho) who are talking about the soul of the earth and about living your own legend.   Passage of ‘The Alchemist’ (Paulo Coelho); “Because life wants you to live your own legend.” “Where is the treasure?” he asked. “To get there you have follow the signs. God has described everybody’s path which we should follow. It is only a matter of being able to read what He has described for you.” The language of The Alchemy connects to the heart and soul, not to the mind. Van de Graaf is very interested in this philosophy and tries to be very much aware of these signs you get along the way to keep you going in the right direction. This connection is vital in his life. 

 Van de Graaf wrote a poem on the 7th of December 2021 inspired by the work (translated by the artist form the Dutch original); 

 The paths guide, 
 Lead, 
 Harbour the signs of the soul, 
 Brought by God’s angels. 
 Listen to the roaring of the wind, 
 Which dances with the infinity of the waves, 
 And the simplicity of the sand. 
 Trust the path, 
 Through mountains and valleys, 
 Chronicled in the Light.

Signs of Angels Written in Light

The work is part of the series 'Stories of Transition' (2020 - 2021)

This work is inspired by the cords of the past that keep us connected to negative situations of the past and old patterns and saboteurs of our being, which are obstructing our freedom of the soul. When we succeed in removing the cords we gain a piece of freedom and allows us to be free as a bird. Strengthened by the blue fire of trust to have the guts to actually start the process to remove the cords. Another inspiration of the painting is a part of the Aramese Jesus prayer; 6. Loose the cords of mistakes binding us, as we release the strands we hold of others’ guilt.  The painting also refers to the sculpture ‘Book With Wings’ (1992 - 1994) by Anselm Kiefer. 

Remove the Cords of the Past to Liberate the Wings of Freedom

The work is part of the series 'Stories of Transition' (2020 - 2021)

This work in inspired by the weaknesses in ourselves, our saboteurs and patterns that form obstructions in our life where we just keep on circling around. Up to the point we clear up and let go the obstructions and we break through the borders into a part of the freedom of the soul.

In Circles Around the Rock of Obstructions

This work is inspired by a difficult period of Van de Graaf when he made regular walks along the beach to clear his mind and to leave issues behind. During that period he also often read the poem ‘Footprints in the Sand’ (author unknown) which also inspired this painting.  While working on this series he was inspired by ‘’To The Stars’ by Max Richter’ which gave him a feeling of the connection with the spiritual world and the romantic cliche of the futility of human beings, which refers to the work of Casper David Friedrich and Anselm Kiefer (especially the work ‘Athanor’ in The Louvre). 
The painting is about hope, trust and faith in difficult times. While this painting is inspired by a personal experience, at the same time it is very universal, because every person is going through tough times during life. Van de Graaf finds it interesting that the very personal can connect with the collective, like songs often do. 

 Footprints in the Sand 

One night I dreamed a dream.
 As I was walking along the beach with my Lord. 
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. 
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, 
One belonging to me and one to my Lord. 
After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
 I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
 I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, 
especially at the very lowest and saddest times, 
there was only one set of footprints. 
This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
 "Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, 
You'd walk with me all the way. 
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, 
there was only one set of footprints.
 I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me." 
He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you 
Never, ever, during your trials and testings. 
When you saw only one set of footprints, 
It was then that I carried you.”
 (Author unknown) 

Carried by God Through Rough Times

The work is part of the series 'Stories of Transition' (2020 - 2021)

This work is inspired by an intense inner process. The feeling to go against the current, to conquer the wall of (inner) transformations, to fight for freedom both in spirit as in life. The alchemy of dreams and inner growth by the path of persistence which also refers to the book ‘The Alchemist’ by Paolo Coelho.

Against the Current for Inner Peace

The work is part of the series 'Stories of Transition' (2020 - 2021)

This work is inspired by the road of life, which can lead us through rocky times into lighter and easier phases in life. Navigating through life guided by the world of the soul, the spiritual world, but so often clouded by the things life shows us.

Looking Through the Veils of Life

The work is part of the series 'Stories of Transition' (2020 - 2021)

This work is inspired about letting go of issues, leaving it behind, about trusting on a new phase in life, having blind trust, to give ourselves to our soul. To jump into the unknown of the soul and fly into its freedom like a bird in the sky.

Leave it Behind, Trust, and Take a Flight into Freedom

The work is part of the series 'Stories of Transition' (2020 - 2021) 

The painting is inspired by climbing on the road of the soul longing to move closer to the Light of the spiritual world. In the time of life we have the lonely position that we are the only ones who have the ability to let ourselves grow as a person. The work also refers to the work of Caspar David Friedrich.

The Lonely Road of the Soul

The work is part of the series 'Stories of Transition' (2020 - 2021)

This painting is inspired by navigating through dark periods in life. Inspired by both personal experiences of Van de Graaf as well from observation of his close loved ones. This work also refers to the painting ‘The Scream’ by Munch.  Van de Graaf wrote a poem during the creation of the painting (26 November 2020, translated by the artist from the Dutch original); 

Weighted, pulled by gravity, 
A crater with ruins, punched in my life, my soul upside-down, 
Experienced, lived, suspended, 
Marsh, a black hole, I wish everything to be forgotten, 
Do not take my life, oh dear Earth, but lead me the way, the way out to the Light, Heal my wound with Thy Holy Soil, 
Refresh my spirit with Thy Light, 
Let me see, it is so dark, 
Let me see, I want to live, enjoy and discover. 
Let me taste the wine of Your Salvation. 
Help me, help me, 
Please do not leave me alone, and perish.  

Heal My Wound With Thy Holy Soil

The work is part of the series 'Stories of Transition' (2020 - 2021)
 
In this painting the viewer is standing in the haven of the soul and looking through the eyes of the soul to the frightening world or dark periods in life. During the process of the painting Van de Graaf wrote a poem about the painting, but like he mentioned; “The poem just came right out the pen, like it was written by the painting.” (5 March 2021, translated by the artist from the Dutch original); 

 “In the darkest time of your soul, Know I will always be there, To lighten up your soul which has his home in Heaven. Walk through the dark parts of your life with trust and courage, So that the Light may find back its way to your soul. Do not be afraid for the darkness of the time, Because the soul only knows eternity.”

In the Darkest Times, Let the Light Shine in the Haven of Your Soul

The work is part of the series 'Stories of Transition' (2020 - 2021)

This painting is partly inspired by a text from ‘The Poem of the Man-God’ (part 2, page 288). The text describes the field as a metaphor to try to become a better version of ourselves and therefor restore the connection to our soul. The field also is a metaphor for the situation that life can leave us wandering around with our wounded heart.

Wounded Hearts in the Field of Life

The work is part of the series 'Stories of Transition' (2020 - 2021)

This work is inspired by a dream of a friend of Van de Graaf which kept on coming back about choosing the path of life. One paths leads us through a rocky landscape, full of challenges and strong resistance, but it will lead us to an opening towards the soul. The other path is the easy one, the one of the least resistance and leads us to a dead end, like literally hitting a wall. This refers to the idea that confronting ourselves and trying to be a better version of ourselves leads to growing as a person and to get closer to our soul.

Paths of Openings or Dead Ends

The work is part of the series 'Stories of Transition' (2020 - 2021)

This painting is inspired by the relation between the self and the soul. The self, with all its patterns and saboteurs, often causing difficulties and turbulence in life and is clouding the soul, which is pure in essence, peaceful and light. It is the feeling of longing to get closer to the soul, to get to the essence and connect with the spiritual world.  The relation between the self and the soul is very personal, but also refers to the collective relation between life on earth and the spiritual world. The attempt to express this relation reaches back to ancient times and has been an important theme throughout history for many artists.

Add

Robert van de Graaf

Opportunities

For Artists

ArtConnect

Support