New tattoo studio opens in Elizabethtown

ELIZABETHTOWN | Lost Valley Tattoo Company, a new tattoo studio, has recently opened on Court Street. Following a transition from a career in corporate counseling, owner and operator Neil Brown got into tattooing in the early 2000s and has been tattooing professionally since 2022. Over the years, he studied and practiced under the mentorship of Jim DuVal, owner of Monster Mash Ink in Essex Junction, Vt. "He did my first tattoo on me when I was 17 years old, and he's been doing this for almost 30 years," he said. "He was a great mentor to learn from." For years, Brown has been commuting between New York and Vermont for work, but due to wanting to spend time with family as much as possible, he decided it was time to find work a little closer to home. And so, Brown opened up shop upstairs in the old pharmacy, which is targeted to become a new community hub of Elizabethtown, thanks to Aaron Woolf and Jori Wekin. Brown specializes in illustrative neo-traditional tattoos and Japanese tattoos, but is familiar with traditional, old-school, and other tattoo styles. Illustrative neo-traditional tattoos blend bold American traditional outlines with a rich color palette, varied line weights, and great detail, while Japanese tattoos have a distinct look and use symbolism to convey their meaning. "I draw on my background in fine art and graphic design to approach each piece with thoughtful composition and creative problem solving," said Brown, who studied at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. "And my work itself is heavily influenced by these styles because of my love for traditional Japanese painting and art, along with anime." Along the wall of the tattoo studio are examples of Brown's work, what he likes to refer to as his "idea wall." Customers can opt to entrust Brown with the tattoo design in full or provide him with a design to work from. Just know that either way, the finished result will be an original. "I'm very collaborative, so I actually prefer it if people send me ideas or inspirations that they might have; then I will typically create a unique version of that," he said. "I don't like doing exactly what somebody else did, just to be respectful to those other artists." Lost Valley Tattoo Company is currently open by appointment only, Monday through Friday. Weekend availability is variable and can be discussed during the booking process. At present, no deposit is required, and Brown's rate is $150 per hour, with an $80 minimum. Appointments can be made via a tattoo booking form linked on Brown's social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. Appointments can be booked at both Lost Valley Tattoo Company and Monster Mash Ink. He asks that those interested in a Lost Valley Tattoo Company Tattoo allow at least 48 hours for a response. "There's still a billion things that I want to learn and do," Brown expressed. "So, I can't wait to do some more tattooing."

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New tattoo studio opens in Elizabethtown

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