Chicago-based fine art painter Bruno A. Surdo is classically trained in drawing and oil painting in the tradition of Renaissance masters. With strong command of the human form, Surdo creates dynamic compositions of people and places that communicate a rich commentary on the world around him. Depicting trees from personal encounters, Surdo’s latest body of work entitled “Tree Spirits” takes us on a foray into the forest, where leaves, branches and burls express something deeply personal. Applying his mastery of figurative realism to the natural world, he experiments with form and texture to uncover the intangible spirits of trees.
Entitled “Birch,” this small-scale oil painting depicts a young birch sapling against an olive wood board. Restricting the composition to only a portion of the trunk, Surdo focuses on qualities that make the tree memorable - its narrow trunk, thin, twig-like branches, and feathery, textured bark. Guided by memory, the painting conveys the strong emotional response elicited by Surdo’s initial encounter, employing a loose, expressive style that enhances the tree’s tactile nature.
The young tree appears bright, curious and upright, not yet warped by age or adversity. The characteristic white and black bark is captured within layer upon layer of neutral earth tones. The unique flaking texture of birch bark is achieved though short, lively brush strokes loaded with paint, resulting in a choppy texture that looks soft and papery from afar.
The unconventional olive wood surface reinforces this subject of natural beauty, the material itself patterned with warm color and a painterly, flowing wood grain. The wood’s orange-brown color enhances the painting’s warmer tones, from the subtle browns of the new growth branches to the currents of sap dripping from each burl.
Oil paint on olive board.
