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About Barby Schacher – Western Pastel Artist
Western Art with Heart & Heritage
I’m Barby Schacher, a Western Pastel Artist shaped by a lifetime of connection to ranch life, horses, and the spirit of the American West. My artwork is grounded in tradition and inspired by real life — cowboys on horseback, cattle drives in the early morning fog, the strength of a ranch hand, or the stillness in a horse’s eye. These are the stories I try to tell through pastel.
A Ranch Kid at Heart
My roots run deep in the Western way of life. I grew up drawing on scrap paper with a good old #2 pencil, surrounded by horses, rodeos, and country roads. Some of my earliest memories are riding horses with my family and friends, competing in local gymkhana’s and barrel racing in area rodeos, or sitting in the stands cheering for barrel racers, bronc riders and bull riders. The traditions of ranch life left their mark on me, and I carry them into every piece I create.
The Power of Pastel in Western Art
Though I started out with pencil sketches, I found my true voice in pastel pencils — a medium that allows me to build rich layers of color and bring out the fine details I love. This is what eventually led me to become a Western Pastel Artist. Every stroke is laid by hand, slowly and intentionally, using hundreds of individual pencil marks to create texture, depth, and emotion.
Whether it’s the folds of a cowboy’s favorite worn western shirt, the tiny strands of thread and other details that make up denim, the soft touch of a cowboy’s rough hand, a pony’s flowing tail, or the intricate pattern of a straw cowboy hat, I rely on pastel to capture the quiet moments that speak volumes.
Award-Winning Pastel Paintings
In 2018, I entered my first Western art competition through the Western Art Rodeo Association (WARA). To my surprise and gratitude, I won multiple awards, including Best of Show and the WARA 2019 World Champion in Dry Medium. Since then, my work has been accepted into national exhibitions and recognized for its detail, authenticity, and heartfelt storytelling.
My pastel painting Cowboy in the Fog received the People’s Choice Award at a 2019 WARA online art rodeo competition and sold at the Mountain Oyster Club Contemporary Western Art Show — a piece that holds special meaning for me. I talk more about this piece in my Mountain Oyster Club Art Show 2019 – Barb Schacher Western Art post here.
Above: “Just A Little Checkup” pastel painting by Barby Schacher. In memory of Keith Danielson, Hooper Crossing Ranch – Home of “Plumb Good Horses”. Reference photo generously provided by Carla Danielson, used with her permission.
Associations & Memberships
As a woman Western Pastel Artist, I’m proud to be a Signature Member of Cowgirl Artists of America (CGA) and a member of Women Artists of the West (WAOW) — two organizations that support and promote female artists in the Western art world. I believe deeply in preserving Western values through fine art and supporting others who do the same.
Creative Process: From Start to Finish
I take great care in choosing reference photos that tell a story — often found through photographers who understand the ranching lifestyle or captured during my own time outdoors. I use professional Pastelbord and archival pastel pencils to ensure the longevity of each painting.
Every piece starts with a light graphite sketch, then layer by layer, I bring it to life. I usually begin with the eyes — where the soul of the animal or subject shines through — and work outward, building up color and contrast gradually. Final touches include fine hairs, fabric threads, and other tiny details that give each painting its realism.
Collecting My Artwork
Each original pastel painting is one of a kind. I do offer limited edition prints of select works for collectors who connect with Western values, rural life, or the quiet grit of cowboy culture.
See my original pastel paintings here. If you’d like to learn more or be notified about upcoming artwork releases, you can join my collector list here.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about my work. I don’t create to impress — I create to remember, to honor, and to share a piece of the West that still lives in me. I hope my artwork brings a sense of that heritage to your home.
Warmly,
Barby Schacher
Western Art with Heart & Heritage
Western Art With Heart & Heritage
