Hello!

My name is Madeline ‘Maddy’ Orsinger.  I grew up in the Twin Cities area, later moving to Stillwater, MN.  For my undergrad I went to Benedictine College in Atchison, KS, graduating with Bachelors in Art and Theology.  During school I honed my painting techniques and began exploring a blend of impressionist and realistic styles combined with color that would evoke a sense of nostalgia, longing, memory, and mystery. I was an continue to be inspired by painters like Wyeth, Cezanne, and Turner, who were able to capture a sense of deeper meaning behind physical reality. With the help of some great professors I was able to focus my philosophical and theological studies around the arts and aesthetics. Thus my passion for the arts as a means of tapping into the transcendentals was deepened.

Meanwhile, alongside my studies, I got involved with Saint Paul’s Outreach and had the opportunity to live in one of their households, with the goal of intentionally being formed in the practicals of living out my faith alongside others who wanted the same. The commitments to daily prayer, worship, household meals and emphasis on community were foundational for me as I began to understand the invitation to the universal call to become the living image of God. I began to see the divine plan to ‘renew the face of the earth’ taking place before my eyes, all creation including ourselves participating in the redemptive mystery, reflecting the glory of God to varying degrees as his grace transformed us. From there on I have never been able to unsee the entire world as a canvas of the glory of God - his mysteries shining through every blade of grass, grain of sand, creature and human being. The ‘sacramentality of creation’ had to become my artistic pursuit as I revelled in the mysteries opening up before me.

I didn’t make a literal artistic career right away, as I got married right out of college, and my husband and I served as missionaries for a few years with Saint Paul’s Outreach in Ohio, then back in MN. I consider this my time of deeper formation, which I sensed God was inviting me to so he could do more work in me, his handiwork in progress, and thus when the time came to create more, there would be more of him I could pour out through myself and this investment of artistic talent he entrusted to me.

4 years later, as a work from home artist and mama returned to the Stillwater area, I’ve had the capacity to devote more time to my artwork, and that artistic journey is where you’ll find me today! I’m blessed to create out of the midst of family life, which I definitely believe is a school of sanctification. I rejoice to celebrate and unfold the mysteries of life and share them with you, in watchful waiting as God brings his promises to fulfillment throughout the world and in all he’s created.

I’m so grateful that I found Matt Tommey’s artist mentoring resources, his programs were pivotal in building momentum as I began my artistic journey. If you’re an artist trying to get started, I’d highly recommend you check out his artist mentoring program!