Mr. Monaghan’s Tattoos

Photos by Alvin Pascual Garay | photos of Mr. Monaghan’s tattoos on his forearms.

Mr. Monaghan is a new teacher here at Estancia. In his class, as well as meeting him, you will notice his impressive guitar skills and his amazing charisma. But his tattoos are what truly makes him stand out. Mr. Monaghan walks around the school displaying his set of tattoos, each signifying a piece of his own story.

Mr. Monaghan's tattoo journey began in his teenage years once he found his love for tattoos. He would see older adults with tattoos and saw a side of rebellion and loved how their tattoos would tell their story.

Back then there were different and negative views and beliefs about tattoos, but what sticks out to Mr. Monaghan is the story. “How do I want to tell my story? How do I want people to know who I am?”

Mr. Monagham showing off a tattoo of Jesus with a cross on his upper right arm.

 When thinking of the future for new tattoos he will get in certain areas. Mr. Monaghan has all sorts of ideas, but there are still things to consider.  For example, Mr. Monaghan has ideas for a back piece but he must think about the financial aspect of a tattoo. When Mr. Monaghan is thinking about this, he thinks differently than most people.

“When you think about it, you are paying to get art permanently on your body, and that's the cool thing about tattoos. I am a canvas for somebody else's art and I get to carry that out everywhere I go.” - Monaghan

Growing up Mr. Monaghan was a big rock and roll fan which sparked his love for the art when seeing the stars’ own tattoos.  An example of this is  American traditional tattoos which has been popularized by sailor Jerry, who was an influential person in Mr. Monaghan's tattoo journey. Later in the future, the tattoo of the ship on the back of his arm was put on him in Sailor Jerry’s very own tattoo shop which became his favorite tattoo because of the story behind it.  His first tattoo is also of great value to him.  It was done in Louisville, Kentucky, where he got a cross with roses when he was 25. This tattoo is very special to him because of his religion and past.  Mr. Monaghan's tattoos are his story that he brings into his everyday life, whether they have deep meaning behind it or are just rad tattoos.  Regardless, Mr. Monaghan's tattoos show his life story and what kind of person he is inside and out.