figurative

Elzo Dibbets paints fascinatingly because of the almost photographic resemblance. His paintings are, as it were, somewhat vague, mysterious photos painted in a perfect technique.

Dibbets initially assumes a white and light gray underpainting applied with a brush, sponge or spray gun. Tens of thin transparent layers of color are then applied over this underpainting [glacis]. While working, he adds more and more details, until his final, ideal image is on the canvas. He often uses a very refined paint sprayer [airbrush] that can be used to paint in great detail, but which produces just that subtle blur, which gives the image an immaterial and elusive character.