Meet Damin Lujan | Mural Artist

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

Hi Damin, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I have been into art since I was 5, if I wasn’t skateboarding, I was drawing comic book characters and words.
Growing up in Culver City I was close to and skated Venice Beach but most skate spots in the 80”s / early 90’s were filled with graffiti. I fell in love with the colors, the letters, the characters I saw on walls. I would draw and skate with friends daily after school. I have loved art as long as I can remember and it’s something I have always done since I was a kid. Growing up I didn’t know it was a career to be an artist so I wanted to be an architect, but once I finished high school and went to college I realized I’m not a fan of school. I loved my architect classes but was not enjoying my other classes and knowing how many classes I had to take, I said no thanks to college. I loved working on cars too so I became a technician for Mercedes Benz and did that for 10 years. I never stopped drawing and would do it for fun still not knowing it could be a career. After 10 years of Mercedes I realized I was not loving my job. I am Christian and very Spirit-led. I felt like I heard God so clear say “you’re going to travel the world painting murals and loving people on the streets”. Now this is my full time job, traveling, painting murals, speaking at schools, teaching classes, and loving friends experiencing hard times on the streets.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My artist name is zaoone, in Greek Zao means to live for a higher purpose and that’s what my art does, it exists for a higher purpose. My art is all about hope, dreams, joy, life, and to help wake up the kid inside everyone that sees it. I’m more proud of the outcome of the murals than the murals themselves. Since my job is in the streets on walls, I love praying while I paint and waiting for anyone to talk to. I will stop and talk to anyone for hours about who they were created to be, about their hopes and dreams. I’m living my dream life so I can help encourage others to take risks and run after their dreams. When people look at my instagram or website they see the artwork, I see the lives that were changed because I’m in no hurry to finish painting. Loving people is my priority. Knowing painting murals was my future did not mean it was easy to get here. I took some big scary risks leaving Mercedes-Benz first, then leaving a amazing job with OBEY clothing. Knowing I have a wife, three kids and a mortgage in Orange County but still I need to quit my job to run after my dream was risky. You have to overcome fear and what feels comfortable to run after your dreams; and if you don’t, your dreams are not big enough. I think the biggest lesson I have learned is I have to fall in love with the city, the people, the clients so that my art reflects them and me. Through me and my murals I want the world to know who they are, we’re all individuals and you’re not supposed to be like anyone else. You’re created to be who you are. Once you know who you are, then you’re free.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First we would get amazing coffee at Cafe Cito, or Hidden House. They have amazing coffee with amazing fresh baked goods. We would grab breakfast at Cafe Cultura in Santa Ana . After coffee and breakfast we would go looking at all the amazing murals all over LA/LB/OC then lunch at Hammer Burger in Santa Ana or Taco Chico in Tustin. We would for sure visit multiple skate parks some of my favorites are Greens Park in Anaheim, stop at Jokers skate shop in HB, then skate across the street at Edison skate park. After all the skating we would get dinner at Burritos la Palma and than Chocolate Abuelita and the best churros at Don Churros Gomez.
We would for sure visit multiple cars and coffee locations between LA and OC. There are so many to choose from. Brekkie puts on regular events, Period Correct always has amazing cars pull up at their store in Costa Mesa , and Carnnoisseur in Anaheim has the best design, coffee, food and cars all in one place!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Most importantly my wife. She has always believed in me and knew this would be my future and encouraged me to take the risk and run after my dream job. Secondly is a person that doesn’t know me. Shawn Bolz spoke life and encouragement into me randomly about my future art career and all has come to pass. One more was Graham Cooke, this man changed my life and I’ll never be the same because of one conversation with him. Thank you Graham, Shawn and my wife Michele.

Website: https://zaoone.com

Instagram: zaoone