Artist Spotlight: ATS Galleries .... Drifa’s Leap’s Top Seller

If you’ve ever wondered what success looks like when passion meets persistence (and a dragon mascot named Bitey McBiteyface), meet ATS Galleries, Drifa’s Leap’s top seller, investor, and steadfast believer in handmade artistry.

“My art has always been sold person to person,” she begins. “I’m a niche artist with a select clientele of art patrons, and word of mouth is still the dominant aspect of growing my collectors’ reach. I’m so appreciative of the people who recommend me to their friends, family and loved ones as the go-to artist of choice.”

Online, she’s found that same personal connection through Facebook and Instagram, and now, with her Drifa’s Leap store, that reach has grown even further. “Being vocal in that medium is key to establishing a bigger online presence,” she says.

Her secret to success on Drifa’s Leap? “Relentlessly expanding the shop listings first and foremost,” she laughs. “Nothing’s sadder than looking at a brand-new shop with four or five items to choose from. I wanted new collectors to see the effort and scale of my work right away, and know that after their first walk through my store, there’ll always be something they can lay their paws on immediately.”

She adds tags to all her posts, links directly to listings for “grab and go” purchases, and praises the Leap support team for their hands-on approach during beta: “They addressed every situation we discovered, and my collectors helped too, it was a true collaboration.”

When asked why she asks her customers to buy through Drifa’s Leap, her reasoning is simple: “We’re in the initial growth phase of making Leap a household name. This takes effort, repetition, and time, and I’m committing all of these to this cause. The faster the platform expands, the faster shops grow and artists can sustain their lives, families, and spend more time in the studio making all the things.”

Her departure from Etsy came years ago. “When Etsy sold for the first time and all the forced fee structures started, I looked at the sales ratio versus the money spent and thought, these don’t balance at all. I don’t believe in throwing good money at bad projects. So I pulled my store offline and never looked back.”

What she loves most about selling on Drifa’s Leap? “Instant gratification for my collectors,” she grins. “If someone wants something I’ve made, they can grab it, even at 3am. My Drifa Store lets me spend more time creating and handling life as it comes.”

And then there’s Bitey McBiteyface. “My Shop Mascot, created by the immensely talented Ariah Hume, is always in the shop handing out all the Shinies on demand. Keeping the wee dragon fiend busy is awesome and he loves it. You want a Shiny? Here, have a Shiny!”

As one of Leap’s early investors, she explains her decision plainly: “Artists have been the fabric of my entire life, from tiny toddler to middle-aged crone. Drifa’s Leap is the personification of all the artists out there doing the work. Of course I’ll put my money where my heart is! One only has to look at Amazon’s beginnings to see where this can lead.”

Her advice for new sellers? “Take the best pictures you can and show scale that the human eye understands, a piece of jewelry in your palm, a mug beside a cat, anything that helps people ‘feel’ the size. Your online store is also your business card. What impression do you want your customer to have?”

Balancing creating, marketing, and managing it all isn’t easy, but she’s built a rhythm. “My Drifa Store saves me time; it’s open 24/7 and lets my patrons shop on their schedule. My days start with cats, coffee, and messages. Then I alternate between filling orders and making something new, that keeps fresh art flowing and prevents burnout.”

Family obligations and health challenges sometimes limit her travel, but she’s found freedom in her shop. “It allows me to breathe easier,” she says. “I’d love to do more juried shows, but for now, this gives me balance.”

Looking ahead, she’s preparing for upcoming SCA events, 100 Minutes, Harts & Horns, Birka, and Gulf Wars (“on my birthday nonetheless”). Shipping costs, tariffs, and supply delays may challenge her, but her spirit doesn’t waver: “More listings and an expanding range of Shinies will show up in my Drifa Store. So far, this journey has been fun, full of surprises and new friendships, and I’m here for all of it.”

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