Q&A with Award Winner Barbara Steinacker

"Bombay Hook NWR Autumn-5" by Barbara Steinacker.
“Bombay Hook NWR Autumn – 5” by Barbara Steinacker.

If you’ve visited “Flora & Fauna” since Saturday, you may not have seen the pastel above — it’s already been sold and moved on to greener pastures. But you can click the image to take a good look, and as always, artwork from Art League shows resides on our Flickr site.

The painting, Bombay Hook NWR Autumn – 5, won the Carol Bruce Pastel Award from the “Flora & Fauna” juror. We asked the artist, Barbara Steinacker, to tell us about her medium of choice, creative process, and career change.

Can you tell us a little about your art career, how you got your training and how you made the transition to full-time artist?
I started taking evening classes with Diane Tesler at The Art League School while working full time in an office environment. This went on for several years before I developed enough confidence in my painting to leave the office job and begin painting full time. Since then, I’ve taken classes with Rob Liberace, Danni Dawson, Jane McElvany Coonce, and workshops with pastelists Bob Rohm in New Mexico, Alan Flattmann in Maine, Stan Sperlak in New Jersey, Jack Pardue in North Carolina, and more locally with Richard McKinley, Susan Ogilvie, and Kim Lordier. Continue reading Q&A with Award Winner Barbara Steinacker

Spring2ACTion FAQs – Help Us Win $30K Next Wednesday!

Wednesday, April 17 is Spring2ACTion – the 24-hour giving event throughout the city of Alexandria – and we need your support! Below are the answers to some FAQs and some information about this BIG giving day. Click here to learn how you can help via social media!

Spring2ACTion for The Art League

What is Spring2ACTion?
Spring2ACTion is a 24-hour, online giving event for non-profits in Alexandria. Non-profits that raise the most unique donors and dollars have the opportunity to win up to $30,000 in additional grants and prizes.

Spring2ACTion is hosted by ACT for Alexandria and ACTion Alexandria. ACT is a community foundation seeking to raise the level and effectiveness of community engagement and giving for the benefit of all Alexandria. ACTion Alexandria connects neighbors and organizations to share ideas, take action and make an impact.

Why is Spring2ACTion important?
Last year, Spring2ACTion rose $320,000 in one day, benefiting 72 nonprofit organizations. The Art League received $32,416 from 610 donors during Spring2ACTion 2012, coming in first place for the most unique donors and second place for the most dollars. We won an additional $9,300 in grant money and prizes. We’re pushing for first all around this year – aiming to raise $40,000 from 800 donors! This fundraising day provides us with much needed financial support for our general operations.

When is Spring2ACTion?
Spring2ACTion is Wednesday, April 17 from 12:00 midnight-11:59 pm.

Where do I make my donation to The Art League on April 17?
Go to our Spring2ACTion page: http://spring2action.razoo.com/story/The-Art-League

What if I’m not available to donate on April 17? Can I schedule a donation in advance?
Yes. To schedule a donation ahead of time, go to http://spring2action.razoo.com/story/The-Art-League. You will see a pull-down under the green donation box on the right hand side. Select “make this donation occur on a giving day,” and follow the rest of the prompts. Scheduling your donation saves the transaction for April 17 (Spring2ACTion day) and makes us eligible for those big grants and prizes.

Is there a minimum donation?
The minimum donation for Spring2ACTion is $10.

Is there a maximum donation?
There is no maximum donation limit for Spring2ACTion.

Is there a limit to the amount an organization can receive on Spring2ACTion?
There is no maximum amount an organization may receive for Spring2ACTion.

Can I donate to Spring2ACTion on my smart phone?
Yes! Simply type http://spring2action.razoo.com/story/The-Art-League into your phone or scan the QR code below to go directly to our page.

What are “power hours”?
Throughout the day on April 17, organizations that raise the most dollars or unique donors during designated “power hours” will win an additional $500. Try and donate during these times if you can! The times marked with an asterisk* are the ones we would like to focus on.

$500 power hours:

  • Most donors by 8:00am*
  • Most dollars raised by 8:00am*
  • Most dollars raised between 11:00am-12:00 noon
  • Most donors between 3:00-4:00pm*
  • Most donors between 7:00-8:00pm*
  • Most dollars raised between 7:00-8:00pm*
  • Most donors between 10:00-11:00pm*
  • Most dollars raised between 10:00-11:00pm*

What are the leaderboard prizes? Why are they important?
Every donation made to The Art League through Spring2ACTion on April 17 gives us the opportunity to win up to $30,000 in additional grants and prizes. Every donation, regardless of size, helps us get closer to winning this big prize money! You can effectively double or triple your donation on this day.

The leaderboards:

Most unique donors:

  • 1st: $5000
  • 2nd: $2500
  • 3rd: $1000
  • 4th: $500
  • 5th: $100

Most dollars raised:  

  • 1st: $5000
  • 2nd: $2500
  • 3rd: $1000
  • 4th: $500
  • 5th: $100

Free Agent Fundraiser (by most unique donors):

  • 1st: $3000
  • 2nd: $1500
  • 3rd: $500

How can I watch the results as they come in on Spring2ACTion day?
Stay tuned to spring2action.org for all the leaderboard action and to The Art League’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Updates will be posted all throughout the day on the 17th.

What is a unique donor?
An email = a unique donor. If you make three donations with three different emails, that will be considered as three unique donors. If you make three donations with the same email address, that is considered as one unique donor.

How does the Free Agent Fundraiser page, “Art League Alums” work? Where does that money go?
This page: http://spring2action.razoo.com/story/Art-League-Alums-1 is a part of The Art League page. Donations made to “Art League Alums” goes toward our leaderboard total for most donors and most dollars. The Free Agent Fundraising page that raises the most unique donors wins an additional $3000 for its organization. Having this page is a great way for our “Art League Alums” to get involved, fundraise on our behalf by reaching out to their contacts, and to get more people involved in this­ awesome day.

How to Help During Spring2ACTion!

Spring2ACTion for The Art League

Wednesday, April 17 is Spring2ACTion – the 24-hour giving event throughout the city of Alexandria – and we need your support! It is the day to make a difference for The Art League. It’s a day when your donation, no matter how big or small, can help The Art League win up to $30,000 in additional grants and prizes – providing us with much needed financial support for our general operations. We need you to help us spread the word and tell your friends and colleagues why The Art League is so important to you.

Click here to read our Spring2ACTion FAQs.

When & where to donate: On April 17, between 12:00 midnight – 11:59 pm, go to http://spring2action.razoo.com/story/The-Art-League and make a donation!

You can help us spread the word and make our way to the top on April 17. Here are some simple ways to help us reach our goal via social media!

5 Ways to use Facebook during Spring2ACTion:

  1. “Like” The Art League’s Facebook page. This will keep you connected and up to date with the latest info about The Art League and Spring2ACTion: http://www.facebook.com/theartleague.
  2. Engage your friends and supporters in conversation. This is an opportunity to tell your Art League story!
    • Tell them why you support The Art League and post it on your page. Upload photos and videos of you painting or creating your artwork.
    • Share The Art League’s Spring2ACTion video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYQ35jbggJc – Let people see how The Art League has impacted you and the community!
    • Promote The Art League and Spring2ACTion in your posts. Use the “mention” function to connect with The Art League and Spring2ACTion. To “mention” The Art League or Spring2ACTion, type the @ symbol and Facebook will prompt you to type in the name of a page or a friend. If you’ve “liked” Spring2ACTion or The Art League, it will show up below the update window as a selection.
  3. Share the link for The Art League’s Spring2ACTion page  – http://spring2action.razoo.com/story/The-Art-League
  4. On April 17, update your Facebook status throughout the day with The Art League’s progress to help increase awareness, excitement and motivation to give.
  5. Change your Facebook profile picture to the official “I Sprung2ACTion for The Art League” profile badge! This will be available for everyone to download from our Facebook site beginning on April 17 at midnight

 5 ways to use Twitter during Spring2ACTion:

  1.  Follow The Art League (@theartleague) and Spring2ACTion (@Spring2ACT). Spring2ACTion tweets will be marked #spring2act
  2. Change your Twitter profile picture to the official “I Sprung2ACTion for The Art League” profile badge! This will be available for everyone to download from our Facebook site beginning on April 17 at midnight.
  3. Share your Art League story!
    • Upload photos of you painting at The Art League and share them on your Twitter account. Share stories of your time at The Art League and ask other Art League friends and supporters to share their message of support on their Twitter accounts.
    • Share The Art League’s Spring2ACTion video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYQ35jbggJcInclude the hashtag #Spring2ACT in your tweets. Using a hashtag is like assigning a category to your tweets. Spring2ACTion will retweet your posts when you use this tag.
  4.  Post Spring2ACTion updates throughout the day on April 17 to help increase awareness, excitement and motivation to give.
  5. Share the link for The Art League’s Spring2ACTion page  – http://spring2action.razoo.com/story/The-Art-League

How to Help by Email:
Send an email to your connections! Email your friends, family, collectors, etc and let them know why they should help support The Art League on April 17. Share your Art League story and include photos and videos.

Be sure to direct them to: http://spring2action.razoo.com/story/The-Art-League to donate!