Meet Kylier Marshall

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kylier Marshall.

Hi Kylier, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I have always been interested in art, my imagination is full of new ideas, drawings, and things I want to build. This creative gene runs throughout my family. My first wood burning was a couple of bears climbing in a tree back in high school for a senior art project. I never thought I would turn this into a profitable business. First, it was friends and family asking me to make their custom signs.

When I saw how great a reaction people had to my work, I started teaching myself new techniques and taking on more pieces and my small business was eventually created. I continued making them throughout college, and even now post-graduation with a full-time job. I get orders across all social media platforms with customers coming from places like Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Georgia, and Washington. It’s been an amazing journey watching my small business grow with me as I grow through life.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I recently graduated college from Northern Arizona University with a degree in Interior Design and a minor in Psychology and am a small business owner who has had a few bumps in the road. For the last four years I have been a full-time student, volunteered, and had two full-time jobs, so finding time to complete each piece was tricky. The holiday season is the busiest.

I would come home from a long day at work and school and try to complete a new burning every two days and then ship them out. I have found so much joy and peace in creating these pieces. It requires so much time and attention to detail, unlike other forms of media, wood is not forgiving. If I make a mistake, I cannot cover it by adding another coat, which is very time-consuming.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am known for my custom wood burnings, I have never done a replica of another piece, making them unique is very important to me and sets me apart from others. In recent pieces, I have used mesquite wood that allows for different shading and colorization.

These wood planks were hand milled by the Marshall family in Southern Arizona. I love doing flowers and nature scenes. Outside of wood burnings, I also paint canvas and wooden signs as a part of Desert and Pine Design. I am most proud of my progression over the years.

Each year I have more orders than the last, often from states besides Arizona, and have taken on more challenging projects requiring more intricate detail. I recently got hired as a Design Project Manager and can express my creativity in a new light. I create floor plans, elevations, 3D renderings, and material selections for both residential and commercial projects.

Who else deserves credit for your story?
I have a great support team back at home. My parents always support me and offer advice when I propose new designs and ideas. My siblings and I are always bouncing ideas off of each other. My grandparents were the first ones to give me my first art kit, wood burners, and give me pieces of wood from their property.

My friends are also great at sharing my social media posts to reach new audiences. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of all these people who got my small business to grow just by word of mouth and social media sharing. I appreciate where I am and I’m excited to see where this business will take me in the future.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @desert_and_pine_design