The art of artist Donna Shortt is currently on display in the City Gallery at the Harrison Center in a show called, “Our Seasonal City”. The featured work in oil, gouache, and pastel illustrates the impact of the changing seasons on some of the iconic views of Indianapolis.

Shortt’s work is characterized by her deep understanding of how to express the magic of light and atmospheric conditions in her work. She paints plein air landscapes, often with other artists, and is particularly inspired by the early morning and late afternoon light.

Shortt was honored to have her work featured in a popular book called “Painting Indiana lll: Heritage of Place'' which inspired her to research and learn more about Indiana history and historic places. The ultimate result of this research was a deep appreciation of the places she paints and the various landmarks of Indianapolis. She says, "I now consider every building in our city worthy of painting!”

Since so many artists paint Monument Circle when they seek to tell the story of Indianapolis, I think it is fun to examine the painting called, “Indy Undressed”. I like Donna’s version of this image, which is reminiscent of a quiet moment, perhaps very early morning just before the sun comes up, as illustrated by the layers of light in the sky. The streets look wet, yet there are stars in the sky, making me feel as if I’m experiencing the Indiana phenomenon of quickly changing weather patterns. The view, without many cars, human figures or seasonal decorations, makes the landscape look stripped back and simplified, hence the name, “Indy Undressed” makes sense.

I am drawn to the piece called, "Morning Mist” because of the lovely color composition and the sleepy yet magical mood that Shortt has captured in this painting. Unlike her depictions of the
monument, it’s almost impossible to tell which cozy, residential neighborhood is portrayed in this image. I love the way she’s used layers of color and various techniques to create the atmosphere here. The media used to create all of the pieces in this show (oil, pastel, gouache) are all pigment-dense mediums. As a result, the colors in each work are rich and vivid, even when effectively expressing a misty morning where the corners and lines are soft and blurry.

Though Shortt is a native of Indiana, having lived here much of her life, she has loved traveling
extensively in other parts of the world. Being able to compare what she has witnessed through her travels has served to heighten her appreciation of her hometown and the various views available to a painter here. It causes her to tell other painters that they should, "Paint what you know.”

“Our Seasonal City” will be on display in the Harrison Center’s City Gallery for the month of September. The exhibit can be viewed in-person by appointment and in our online gallery, where all pieces are available for purchase.