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

Hi Emma, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I don’t know that opening my own shop had so much of a “thought process” behind it as much as it just felt like a natural progression of my career. I’ve been in my industry for over a decade and learned so much about what to do (and what to avoid) in operating a tattoo shop; our space is just an application of these experiences!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I began tattooing in the Texas Hill Country in 2012 at one of two local street shops. It wasn’t the most inspiring environment (drugs, crime, etc), but I’d have done anything to get my foot in the door. I tattooed walk ins for ten-plus hours a day, mainly infinity symbols and baby footprints with the occasional American flag thrown in, which developed my technique to a passable level. I loved the unexpected flow of the studio, but unfortunately I also had to learn some lessons about setting boundaries and knowing my worth after several unsafe experiences.

I moved to a few other shops/states and it wasn’t until around 2017 that I started leaning into my own style and drawings. The more tattooers I got out and met, the more inspired and educated I became about my craft as well. I’ve recently been expanding into more large-scale pieces inspired by historical art, traditional tattoo imagery, high fantasy, and religious themes. I’m really excited about the development of these pieces and I can’t wait to start sharing them when I make some decent progress! You can find me at Holy Mountain Vintage & Tattoo at 547 E. Cimarron St. starting May 1!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to my husband, Tyler! He is part owner of our studio and had worked endlessly since we moved to Colorado Springs to get our name out there, create an amazing space, and handle all of the behind-the-scenes work required to get us going. You can find him at Holy Mountain slinging the craziest vintage in town!

Website: https://holymountaincolorado.com

Instagram: soilentqueen

Image Credits
Tyler Prock, Me

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.