Monica

Monica is the owner and a traditionally apprenticed tattoo artist at Queen’s Gambit Tattoo in Rockville, Maryland. With an extensive background in animation, video game design, and commissioned pencil artistry, she brings a unique, illustrative perspective to her work. Monica completed her traditional tattoo apprenticeship in Wahiawa, Hawaii, in 2008, becoming licensed in Hawaii by 2009, and later pursued a piercing apprenticeship in 2020.

Her distinctive artistic approach is often described as “90s Traditional” or “90s New School,” blending bold lines, vibrant colors, and a playful, cartoony aesthetic. She particularly enjoys tattooing themes that draw from fantasy, sci-fi, nature, monsters, and mermaids. While specializing in these imaginative pieces, Monica is also adept in a wide array of styles, including neo-traditional, realism, portraiture, blackwork, fine line, Polynesian, lettering, and watercolor tattoos.

Monica is dedicated to creating custom art that reflects her unique flair, ensuring each design has longevity and ages beautifully on the skin. She is passionate about preserving the tradition of hand-drawn tattoo flash and maintains a focus on client education and high-quality outcomes for all her projects, from intricate smaller pieces to comprehensive large-scale sleeves.