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.
Unlike other works within this series, this oil painting entitled “Frozen Memories” relies on a landscape to give context to the featured tree. The slice-of-life painting depicts a good old tree beside a rural home, lit by the bright light of a sunny winter’s day. The scene is quiet and relaxed, with chickens roaming in the foreground and icicles sparkling in the midday sun.
Despite the picturesque surroundings, the focus of the painting is undoubtedly the large tree in the foreground. Restricting the composition to show only a portion of the trunk, Surdo presents the tree as just one element of the idyllic setting, an essential feature of the home. Even during the cold winter months, when leaves have fallen and the world goes dormant, the tree continues to offer comfort and support to this family home. Strung with a tire swing, the tree recalls the warmth of summer and the carefree memories of seasons past.
The tree is painted in a loose, expressive style that simulates the rough texture of bark and contrasts the rigidity of the surrounding built environment. The irregular contours provide a visual counterpoint to the straight lines of the yellow brick wall and nearby window and trellis. Layers of short brushstrokes in a wide range of neutral colors texture the tree’s organic form, swirling around burls, knots and other imperfections.
Oil on canvas.
