Job Daniel Figueroa Zamarripa is from Chihuahua, Mexico, and has been living in the Valley for four years. He currently works as a photographer, tattoo artist and muralist. Job has been immersed in art since a young age, beginning his artistic journey in middle school. His love for art started with music and the visual arts, such as painting, sculpture, printmaking and photography. That passion led him to explore various disciplines, from becoming certified and specializing in barista work and latte art, to recently venturing into the conservation and reproduction of amphibians and reptiles.
What led you to photography?
During college, I had the fortune of being taught by Professor Edgar Torres, who taught me everything about analog photography, from camera work to the darkroom development process. In Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua, I had the opportunity to work with several professional photography studios. A fun fact is that I also worked for Productora INC Studios in Mexico City, where I collaborated on filming, production and post-production (editing) of music videos for artists such as Río Roma, Lucerito, Mijares, Emmanuel and others.
What led you to art?
I have hyperactivity issues, and it’s hard for me to not be doing something. For me, creating comes naturally, while many people find art difficult, I can put down a brush and pick it up again with ease. I know I’m not perfect, but I do everything with care and dedication. To me, art is, above all, vision.
Talk about the difference between craftsmanship and art.
Craftsmanship has great merit, but it can be repeated. Art, on the other hand, is that element you create with intention and purpose, something that evolves and leaves an impact. The work of art is to beautify, to make people pause for a moment and experience an emotional impact. That’s what we artists strive to achieve.
Which artists have inspired you?
My greatest inspiration is Charles Chaplin. I’m amazed by how he could do so much with so little. Simplicity deeply inspires me, because simplicity is hard work, the only person you truly need to surpass is yourself.
What emotions do you release creating art?
Percussion saved my adolescence. As someone who was very anxious, with attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity, creating rhythms based on my breathing became a way to release energy. I always end up sweating, it’s a neural, sensory process — a real release. I’m very grateful to my parents for their patience, they understood that music helped me.
What thought has shaped your art?
“The lips of wisdom are closed, except to the ears of understanding,” from the book “The Kybalion.”
That phrase resonates deeply with me and has been a pillar in understanding many artistic processes. When you truly want to learn, you need to be silent; sometimes we talk so much that we don’t allow ourselves to absorb knowledge.
My family has always said that “the world belongs to the bold,” so I invite everyone to take a moment and breathe slowly in front of an art piece. Let’s give it more everyday value, analyze it from a different perspective. To my fellow artists, I say, let’s keep moving forward, put our hearts into what we do, and continue embellishing the world with our work.
Job shared that “we are vibration,” and recommended that, especially for children, we listen to music tuned to 432 Hz, which is the frequency of nature and birds. Normally, songs are tuned to 440 Hz, but 432 Hz helps us reach a calmer, more peaceful state.
He is currently working on sketches for two new murals in the Valley. He’s also expanding his local photography portfolio, offering professional sessions for individuals, events and pet portraits. Although he recently closed his tattoo studio, he plans to continue offering his tattooing services.
To learn more about his work as an artist, muralist, photographer and tattoo artist, you can follow him on Instagram at @jobfigueroazamarripa, on Facebook as “Job D. Figueroa” or contact him at 970-200-7730.