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 “Lucid Soul,” this portrait of a young birch sapling is painted on an elongated canvas that allows for incredible detail. The slender tree is painted in a wide range of neutral colors with a freeform, expressive style, textured with thick layers and added sediment. Up close, the brushstrokes appear erratic and incomprehensible, but from afar, the chaotic layering beautifully captures the organic beauty of birch bark, with all its irregular patterning and texture.
Restricting the composition to only a portion of the trunk, Surdo focuses on qualities that make the tree memorable - its narrow trunk, knotted burls, and speckled white bark. Catching the light from above, the tree stands out as a beam of white against the grey gradient background. Isolated from any surroundings, the tree appears bright and curious, yet somewhat solemn, recalling the quiet patience of a tree in winter.
Acrylic on canvas.
