Meet Jessie Driver | Co-Founder of Canvas Studio & Nail Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessie Driver and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessie, what role has risk played in your life or career?
When I think about risk, I see it as a leap of faith, trusting that my hard work will be enough to ensure I land on my feet. My career has been shaped by several pivotal moments, each requiring me to make difficult choices with no guarantees. I began my career in nails out of necessity, helping to support my immigrant parents and four younger sisters through challenging times. There were periods when we didn’t have enough food or money, and I know firsthand the reality of poverty and homelessness, relying on shelters and food banks. Fortunately, I had family mentors in the salon industry who taught me everything they knew about nails and salon management. Learning this trade wasn’t just practical but also empowering. It gave me a skill that would allow me to support myself anywhere.

My skills eventually led to me working at a luxury spa in downtown Columbia to support myself through college but by the time I graduated, I realized I loved doing nails and building relationships with clients. This was a risky decision, choosing to continue as a nail artist rather than pursuing a traditional white-collar career. My family, who had hoped I’d enter law or medicine, couldn’t understand why I’d “waste” my hard work of graduating from USC with honors just to stay in the nail industry. To them, it was acceptable as a necessity but hard to understand as a choice. This decision was also risky because of the stigma surrounding the nail industry. Often seen as a lesser trade, I wanted to change that narrative not just for myself, but for others in the industry as well.

After working as a salon employee for several years, I realized I needed more control over my career to create the change and growth I was craving. I took the leap to become an independent nail artist, running my own business within an existing spa. Almost a year later, when that workspace suddenly became unavailable it forced me to face another risk: either return to being a salon employee or take a leap of faith and create a space of my own.

That’s when the idea of Canvas Studio was born. Together with my husband, Colton, and co-founder, Kathryn Mcilwain, we dove headfirst into making Canvas Studio a reality. We had barely a month’s notice to leave our previous location and it was not exactly in our plans to suddenly obtain a new property, renovate it, and furnish it. But we chose to take the biggest risk yet, pouring our blood, sweat, and tears into creating a safe haven for ourselves and our clients.

Canvas Studio was born out of necessity, much like my career in nails. But it has become a beautiful passion project, and the possibilities are endless as we continue to imagine what our future holds. Embracing risk has taught me there are times when it makes sense to let go of expectations and embrace new possibilities. Rather than seeing setbacks as failures, I’ve used them as fuel to create something even better. Every major step in my career has been a leap of faith, and every time, I’ve landed on my feet.

What should our readers know about your business?
Canvas Studio is a non-traditional, appointment-only salon in West Columbia that offers specialized nail and waxing services. What sets us apart is our commitment to providing immaculate services while dedicating one-on-one time to each client. We’re passionate about fostering a sense of community, and we pride ourselves on forming meaningful, lasting relationships with our clients. Their unwavering support is a huge reason why we’ve come as far as we have.

I’ve been doing nails in Columbia for over 13 years, and during that time, my clients and I have shared many of life’s pivotal moments together. My clients were my biggest cheerleaders when I made the decision to branch out on my own, and they stood by me through the challenges of the pandemic, multiple relocations, and eventually, the opening of Canvas Studio.

One of the most challenging moments came in March 2021, when we received sudden notice that our lease wouldn’t be renewed, with termination set for just a month later. With very little time, we found the property where Canvas Studio is located today, closed the deal on April 20th, and officially opened our doors on May 13th. It felt like a miracle—we went from uncertainty to opening a new space in just over a month. That period was one of the most stressful and rewarding of my life.

Looking back, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished. Watching our perseverance and dedication pay off has been nothing short of amazing. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to trust the process and believe that hard work will always pay off. When one door closes, another one inevitably opens—sometimes in ways you couldn’t have imagined.

I want the world to know that Canvas Studio is more than just a salon; it’s a space where people come together, share their stories, and support each other. We’ve built something special and I’m excited to see where this journey takes us!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting for a week, the itinerary would definitely focus on food and family-friendly activities, especially since I have two young children. Columbia has so much to offer, and I love highlighting the city’s unique spots.

We’d start by exploring some of the best local attractions, like Riverbanks Zoo for a fun day seeing the animals or EdVenture Children’s Museum where the kids could enjoy hands-on activities. Another must-visit would be Richland Library on Assembly Street, which has a fantastic children’s area. For some outdoor adventures, we’d head to Owen’s Field Park, a great spot for the kids to burn off some energy, or take a scenic walk at Riverfront Park to enjoy the beautiful river views.

When it comes to food, we’d definitely visit my favorite coffee shops, like Drip and smallSUGAR, where the atmospheres are cozy and the coffee is top notch. Lunch might be at DiPrato’s for their famous pimento cheese and fried pita chips or The Gourmet Shop. We’d also make time for a Saturday visit to Soda City Market, where we could explore local vendors, enjoy different food trucks, and take in the vibrant downtown atmosphere.

For dinner, Columbia’s restaurant scene never disappoints. I’d make sure to take them to my favorite restaurant, Lula Drake, for wine and small plates in an intimate setting, or Hendrix, where we could enjoy rooftop dining with views of Main Street. Other standouts include Terra, known for its farm-to-table approach, and Saluda’s, which offers upscale Southern dining with a view of Five Points.

And if they’re a night owl like me and up for a night of dancing, we’d head to The Woody or Pearlz Upstairs. Both are fun spots for hitting the dance floor and enjoying some late-night energy.

Columbia is often an unexpected surprise for visitors because it offers such a wide variety of activities, from family-friendly spots to an amazing food scene and many local businesses to support. There’s always something new to discover, and I love being able to show off the best parts of this city to out-of-towners.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to give a shoutout to the nail community as a whole because it has played a major role in shaping who I am today. The nail industry is predominantly led by Southeast Asian immigrants, particularly Vietnamese, but not many people know the history behind the reason for that. After the Vietnam War, a wealthy actress named Tippi Hedren brought her manicurist to a Vietnamese refugee camp in California to teach the women there how to do nails. This skill allowed them to resettle into the community and provide for themselves, creating a ripple effect as these women taught other refugees and family members, helping them to support themselves as well.

The sense of community within the Vietnamese American population and the nail industry has always been deeply inspiring to me, especially as a first-generation American born to immigrant parents. My father was a Vietnamese refugee who came to America alone as a young teenager. He was fortunate to be sponsored by an American family in New Jersey until he could reunite with his own family, not knowing if they had survived their escape from war. Eventually, his eldest brother opened a nail salon in South Carolina, which led to my father learning the trade, and that’s how I grew up in a nail salon environment, learning the craft myself.

This cycle continues today as I bring my daughter to the nail salon I helped create, teaching her how to paint her own nails. This time, it’s not out of necessity; it’s out of love. It’s a bonding experience to show her what I do but also to share where we come from. This community and this industry have given me so much— its resilience, support, and solidarity have paved the way for my success, and for that, I am deeply grateful.

Website: https://nails-by-jessie-driver.square.site/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/jessie.thenailartist

Image Credits
Lynn Luc