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.
This oil on canvas painting entitled “Whispers in the Shadows” is the only work within this series that places his trees alongside human subjects. Rather than a portrait, this painting presents a narrative from Surdo’s life, recalling a long walk through the snowy hills of Wisconsin, accompanied by his wife and dog. The wistful scene inspires feelings of warmth and nostalgia, recreating the perfect moment of walking through nature with your loved ones. And yet, Surdo’s play of light and perspective lends the setting a sense of whimsy and exaggeration - like a memory frozen in time.
The wintery landscape is quieted by a layer of fresh snow, a soft surface that reflects the colors of the surroundings and takes on new shapes from footprints and cast shadows. Like the viewer, the figures in this painting stare further into the composition towards the trees and snowy terrain. Despite their movement towards a house in the distance, the tranquil scenery is defined by the presence of trees, silhouetted against the background and drawing shadows in the snow. A few yellowed leaves still clinging to their branches, these trees punctuate the scenery as impassive markers of time, landmarks of nature that measure the seasons as they come and go.
Oil on canvas.
