We recently connected with D. Pierce Giltner and have shared our conversation below.

D. Pierce, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Yes — but it was a long time coming, and every step of it was intentional.

I was born with a natural creative talent. That’s not something I take credit for so much as something I’ve always felt a responsibility to honor. My construction experience goes back 35 years, so the hands, the eye, and the work ethic were being built long before anyone called it a business.

Rustic Installations was born as a dream in 1995. But dreams have their own timeline. It wasn’t until 2014 that it became a true professional enterprise — and shortly after that, tabby entered my life and changed everything.

It was 2017 when I was first commissioned to build a tabby fireplace and what happened next I can only describe as a creative awakening. I wasn’t just learning a technique — I was stepping into a tradition that had been largely dormant for well over a century, and I felt the weight and the honor of that immediately.

Tabby is a building tradition that dates back to the late 1800s along the southeastern coastal regions of America — a mixture of oyster shells, lime, and sand that craftsmen of that era used to construct homes, buildings, and lasting structures deeply rooted in Lowcountry culture. It is a craft that faded from practice and was nearly lost entirely. I made it my mission to bring it back — not as an imitation, not as a shortcut, but as a true revival. I follow the same ancient process, the same materials, with only a few necessary modern modifications. That faithfulness to the original tradition is something I take seriously. Honoring the craft means doing it the way it was meant to be done.

From that first fireplace, the reputation built itself. What started in the South Carolina Lowcountry has grown into a worldwide clientele. High-end clients across the globe now commission my tabby fireplaces, columns, and planters — each one a completely original piece, built by hand and rooted in that same ancient craft. That’s the other thing I refuse to compromise on: every project is a work of art. One of a kind. I approach each commission the way a painter approaches a canvas — with full creative investment, no two pieces ever the same, no details overlooked.

Full-time living came when the work became undeniable. I didn’t chase it — I built something worth finding, and the right people found it.

If I could go back and speed anything up, it would simply be this: trust the craft sooner. The dream was always right. It just needed time, mastery, and the courage to go all in.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

**My name is D. Pierce Giltner, and I am the artist and craftsman behind Rustic Installations, based in Bluffton, South Carolina.**

I was born with a natural creative talent — that’s the only way I know how to describe it. From as far back as I can remember, I saw the world through the lens of what could be made, shaped, and transformed. That instinct led me into construction over 35 years ago, where I began building the hands, the eye, and the discipline that would eventually become the foundation of everything I do today.

Rustic Installations was born as a dream in 1995. It was always the vision — a business rooted in artistry, craftsmanship, and creating things that had never been made before. But dreams take time to fully arrive. It wasn’t until 2014 that Rustic Installations became a true professional enterprise, and from that point forward there was no looking back.

Shortly after, tabby found me — and everything changed.

Tabby is an ancient building tradition dating back to the late 1800s along the southeastern coastal regions of America. It is a mixture of oyster shells, lime, and sand that craftsmen of that era used to construct homes, buildings, and enduring structures deeply woven into the fabric of Lowcountry culture. Over time, the craft faded. The knowledge was nearly lost entirely. When I was first commissioned to build a tabby fireplace in 2017, something awakened in me that I hadn’t anticipated. I wasn’t simply learning a new skill — I was becoming a steward of something rare and historically significant. I felt the responsibility of that immediately and I have never taken it lightly.

I made it my mission to revive this craft the right way. I follow the same ancient process, the same materials, with only a few necessary modern modifications. There are plenty of people out there trying to replicate the tabby look — but very few are willing to put in the time and dedication to do it authentically. That distinction matters deeply to me. Honoring the tradition means honoring the craft in full.

Today, my work centers on three signature pieces — **tabby fireplaces, columns, and planters** — each one commissioned by high-end clients worldwide. What started as a local Lowcountry story has grown into something far greater, with clients across the globe seeking out this work for their most prized spaces and properties.

What sets me apart is simple: I treat every single project as a work of art. Not a product. Not a service. A work of art. No two pieces are ever the same. I get to know each client deeply — their vision, their space, their taste — and then I pour everything I have into making that vision a reality, with craftsmanship and detail that goes beyond what most people even think to ask for. When a project leaves my hands, it is one of a kind. It always will be.

What am I most proud of? Honestly — the revival itself. The fact that an ancient tradition that was fading into history is alive again, being installed in remarkable homes and properties around the world, and that I am the one carrying that torch. That means more to me than any single commission or any amount of recognition.

What I want people to know about Rustic Installations is this: when you commission a piece from me, you are not buying a product off a shelf. You are investing in something that will outlast trends, outlast time, and carry a story worth telling for generations. That is what tabby has always done. And that is what I intend to keep doing.

And the craftsmanship is only one side of who I am. I am also a fine artist — working in oils, watercolors, and pen and ink — with a gallery and studio located in the heart of Bluffton. My paintings draw deeply from the Lowcountry landscape and its people, capturing the character, the light, and the legacy of this remarkable place I call home. To explore that side of my work, visit me at **www.dpiercegiltner.com**.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is simply the act of creating. I was born with this — it wasn’t something I learned or developed out of necessity. It has always been there, this deep instinctive drive to make something that didn’t exist before. That is the purest form of reward I know.
Over 35 years of working with my hands, through every project, every medium, every commission — that feeling has never left me. Whether I’m building, painting in oils, sketching in pen and ink, or laying down a watercolor, the creative process is where I am most myself. It’s not work. It’s who I am.
That’s what I want people to understand about creativity — it’s not a skill you clock in and out of. When you’re born with it, it runs through everything you touch. Every piece I make carries that. And that, more than anything, is what keeps me going.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

There was a moment when I hit absolute rock bottom — and let’s just say I got a very clear look at the view from down there. Didn’t care for it much. So I got out, and I got out fast. No long deliberation, no twelve-step plan, no motivational poster on the wall. Just a decision. Some people take years to find their turning point — I found mine and didn’t look back long enough to trip over it. That pivot didn’t just change my life, it lit the fire under everything I’ve built since. Funny how rock bottom has a way of being the most solid foundation you’ll ever stand on.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rusticinstallations.com, www.dpiercegiltner. com
• Instagram: coastal_sketcher
• Youtube: @DPierceGiltner

Image Credits

Kim Smith Photography