"Mystic Bond" by Bruno Surdo

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 mixed media painting entitled “Mystic Bond” captures the twisting contours of a large, mature tree. Restricting the composition to only a portion of the trunk, Surdo accentuates the tree’s abstract form, lingering on areas of unusual shape or texture. The focused perspective emphasizes the gestural movements of the tree’s splayed branches, bent and curved into grotesque, almost unnatural, positions. Through these exaggerated shapes, Surdo explores the relationship of positive and negative space and probes the limitations of trees as natural forms. The bark of the tree is painted in an expressive, freeform style, with short, choppy brushwork and a raised surface texture. A black raven resting on a branch contrasts this aggressive brushwork with soft realism and reminds the viewer that this dramatic, twisted form is a tree after all.

Mixed media.