Valentine's Day Feature: Love Letters Between Artists

A Valentine’s Celebration at Art Gallery 310

This Valentine’s Day, the artists of Art Gallery 310 decided to celebrate one another.

Each participating artist was randomly paired with another and invited to write a short “love letter”—not only about what they admire in that person’s artwork, but about the artist themselves and the energy they bring to our gallery community.

The result is a collection of heartfelt reflections, artistic appreciation, friendship, and creative admiration. We hope you enjoy reading them as much as we enjoyed receiving them.

💌 David Maas

Love Letter from Madeline Cornwell

David is not only a respected artist in our community, but also one of the most supportive people in our gallery. He’s been creating far longer than I have, and I truly value the perspective and wisdom he so generously shares—I’m proud to have my work hanging beside his. I admire his fearless experimentation across mediums, from acrylics to collage to Japanese Gyotaku printmaking; no matter what he’s exploring, each piece is fabulously, unmistakably his. My favorite piece of his is an acrylic painting featuring a vibrant female figure—it truly captivated me. I’m grateful for David’s bold creative energy and his camaraderie at Art Gallery 310.

💌 Jean Fugate-Besalke

Love Letter from Michael Escott

To look at Jean’s artwork is to meet her. I particularly love the animal characters she creates in some of her paintings—they put a smile on my face every time. I think each of them is a reflection of her; kind, funny, happy, and eccentric are all words that come to mind to describe both the characters and Jean herself. My favorite painting of hers is still the house with the laundry hanging in the side yard. Although vibrantly painted, it carries a balanced, peaceful connotation. I am lucky to have her as a friend and look forward to seeing her next work.

💌 Jeff Leech

Love Letter from Michelle Huseman

Jeff Leech definitely has an eye for color that brings his photography to life! In the gallery, I can immediately tell which pieces are his because the vibrant colors catch your eye and make you want to explore the image further. Perspective is so important in art, and Jeff consistently offers unique views that make his work stand out.

💌 Joe Conover

Love Letter from Kathy Burnett

When I saw Joe’s exhibit at the Quincy Art Center, I was totally enthralled with his encaustic artwork. I marveled at the rich textures he has created in his pieces—his work has such depth. He definitely raises the bar for all of his fellow artists and sets a standard of excellence for us. It is a true honor to be at Gallery 310 with him and to have my art alongside his.

💌 Kathy Burnett

Love Letter from Madeline Cornwell

I’m constantly drawn to Kathy’s corner of the gallery because of the incredible textures and bold colors she achieves with her acrylics. Her animal-themed pieces are brilliant (I’ll forever adore “Zelda the Purple Cat”), but her portraits—especially “Blues Nights” and “In the Shadows”—completely captivate me with their moody atmosphere and distinctive, unexpected use of color. There’s something deeply thoughtful about her work; every piece invites emotion and reflection. I’m so happy she joined Art Gallery 310—her art brings a playful, vibrant energy and that perfect touch of je ne sais quoito our collection.

💌 Kathy Hyer

Love Letter from Lynn Zielinski

I love Kathy’s mixed media art. She takes ideas, textures, and colors and turns them into something meaningful. Her artwork reminds me that art doesn’t have to fit into one box—it can be layered, playful, emotional, and still be beautiful. Her art encourages me to experiment more, trust my instincts, and take creative risks. Keep doing you, Kathy! Your art is wonderful.

💌 Kay Sutherland

Love Letter from Jeff Leech

Kay is a brilliant artist whom I admire very much. She has a warm and friendly smile, and I always enjoy our conversations. Her work draws me in with its soft, warm colors and fine realistic details. It’s easy to see why she has fans who come in just to see her most recent works at the gallery. I’m proud to have one of her pieces hanging in my own home!

💌 Lynn Zielinski

Love Letter from Patsy Cornwell

Lynn is a jack of all trades and master of ALL! Whatever type of art she creates, it’s always beautiful. She has a wonderful sense of color that she brings to whatever medium she is using. She paints in watercolor, acrylic, and alcohol ink, and she sculpts earrings using polymer clay and even 3D prints the coolest ornaments!

💌 Madeline Cornwell

Love Letter from David Maas

Madeline’s artwork includes beautifully colored collages of wildlife. These relatively small yet highly detailed designs are painstakingly rendered in a realistic manner and are often facial close-ups of a wild creature she is visually sharing with us. I LOVE the way she achieves so much detail in these collages. Selecting, arranging, and then precisely cutting and gluing the pieces needed to make the finished work of art demonstrates techniques that viewers of all ages can appreciate. Lovers of wildlife will find Madeline’s collages to be one of the highlights of their visit to Gallery 310.

💌 Michael Escott

Love Letter from Kay Sutherland

Michael Escott’s work always brightens my day. In some pieces, you can almost feel the movement within them. In others, I sense joy and appreciate the message I receive. Michael paints with exuberant freedom, and the end result is a pleasure to behold. If you don’t want humdrum, purchase a Michael Escott painting.

💌 Michelle Huseman

Love Letter from Kathy Hyer

I enjoy Michelle’s photography very much. She has a very artistic eye for discovering beauty in ordinary objects that most people might overlook. Her animal photos capture just the right pose to truly show their personality.

💌 Patsy Cornwell

Love Letter from Madeline Cornwell

She has shaped my creative life in more ways than I can fully express. As my mom, she gave me the freedom to explore art without hesitation and continues to support me with encouragement, thoughtful critique, and unwavering belief. Some of my most treasured moments are spent sitting at her kitchen table, creating side by side and sharing something we both deeply love. Her eye for color and composition shines in everything from her luminous watercolors to her bold alcohol inks—especially her rabbit painting and her Isle of Skye sheep, which hold special meaning for me. I’m incredibly proud of her fearless creativity and deeply grateful that she encouraged me to join Art Gallery 310 and continues to inspire my growth as an artist through her example.

❤️ Happy Valentine’s Day from Art Gallery 310!

Art is powerful on its own—but community makes it even stronger.

We are grateful for the creativity, encouragement, humor, experimentation, and friendship that fill our gallery walls every day. Thank you for supporting Art Gallery 310 and the artists who make it such a special place.

With Love,

Art Gallery 310