Retro Rick's Interview with Rio
May 16, 2006
Retro Rick: I'm sitting here with a very special guest... she's known for her artwork especially of the local and TNA stars of the squared circle... RIO! Welcome, Rio.
Rio: Thank you, Rick! It's my pleasure to be here.
RR: Well, I guess we should start at the beginning, when did you first get into drawing and artwork?
Rio: Oh wow. I've been drawing since I could pick up a pencil. When my mom used to have her business out of the house, I would constantly be drawing or coloring. This was around the time when I was about two or three.
RR: So it seems you're quite the natural. I've been unfortunate enough to not even be able to draw proportionate stick figures. LOL In fact, in school I once got a C on a project called "Doodle Art"... you fillup a page with your very own doodle art. Me getting a C is like me getting my opinion wrong. I bring that up because I'm curious if you have any stories from art classes in school. Was it always just drawing that grabbed your interest or are there other types of art you tinker with?
Rio: Oh I'll do about any kind of art besides knitting. Man, they say that calms people down, but sure as heck not me. Drawing's probably the easiest for me to do, and that's one of the reasons why I like it the best. I can also express myself more with drawing and such than I can with most of the other forms. I do some painting as well, but it's usually just random things and not scenery or anything.
RR: No scenery? I guess that means we don't get to see any Rio "happy trees". LOL I've noticed in your artwork that a lot of it has kind of an anime style to it. Is that your favorite art form or just the one that's easiest for you to do?
Rio: Yes, my art style has quite a bit taken from the anime style, but yet has a flair of my own. There's just something about most of my artwork that people have said you can tell I was the one who did it. Anime IS however a huge influence for me since I've grown up watching it and reading manga (Japanese graphic novels) as well.
RR: Obviously you're quite well known around Central States Wrestling. How did you get into being a CSW and general indy wrestling fan?
Rio: Actually it's kind of funny. Most people know I'm a huge fan of the wrestler Raven, and I had happened to have been visiting his website and decided to just check to make sure he wasn't going to be anywhere near where I lived anytime soon. Well, on the list I happened to see he was going to be at some place called Lawrence, KS. I was like 'HOLY CRAP! Mom! Wherever Lawrence is I have to go! Raven's going to wrestle there!' So somehow that happened to work and I wound up going to both Raven's seminar and the show, The Raven Effect. This was my first live show, period, including indies and major promotions. I fell in love with it the first time I went. Everyone was super nice to me and I just fell in love with the atmosphere and all the nice people who helped me feel at home.
RR: What a great story and it's true what you say about the CSW experience. The fans really get to be a part of the show both during the show and afterwards when you can meet some of your favorite CSW stars. I never cease to be amazed at how great everyone from the merchandise girls to the wrestlers are. Since we're on the topic of wrestling, who would you say are your favorite all-time wrestlers from a national and world level?
Rio: Well that would be a huge list, so I'll try to keep it halfway short. I really like Raven, CM Punk, Jeff Hardy, AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels and Paul Burchill currently.
RR: Yeah... I'd say you kept that pretty short. LOL And coming back to our area, who are some of your favorite indy & CSW wrestlers?
Rio: My number 1 favorite indy wrestler for a long time has been Delirious, and he definitely retains the number 1 spot. I have a lot of favorites in indies and CSW as well, so I don't want to leave everyone out, but just to name a few: Matt Sydal, Michael Strider, ..1 Brett Young, Daizee Haze, Payday Patterson, and Dingo Machete.
RR: It's tough to name just a few when it comes to the local guys because, as you said, most all of them can easily make a favorites list. You've become pretty well known for your art of wrestlers and you've personally told me stories of when you made a drawing of the guys as a gift. What are a couple of the best reactions and stories from those who have been drawn by you upon seeing your artwork of them?
Rio: Everyone's been SO humble when I've given them my artwork. They all seem to really appreciate the work I put into it and everyone's absolutely loved it. I guess the number 1 best reaction from someone who's received artwork from me would be Derek Stone. I gave him a picture I had drawn of him last month or so, and at the last show he brought me into the ring and held me up for the entire crowd to see! So that definitely is the top of all reactions so far! I have no idea how that one could be topped because I had no idea about it, and it was extremely cool!
RR: Oh, yeah... that was a great moment for sure! And it was a moment that you could never get at a national wrestling show. :-) I know that you've also done artwork of TNA talent that have been to CSW shows. Who from TNA have you drawn, did you get to give them your art, and what were they're reactions?
Rio: Oh let's see.. there's quite a list. Who I've drawn so far has been: 2 of Raven, 1 of Abyss with Father Mitchell, 2 of Abyss, 1 of Father Mitchell, 1 of Sabu, and 1 of Sonjay Dutt. I'm also almost finished with the picture I'll be giving AJ Styles in a couple weeks. Raven, Abyss, and Sonjay Dutt I got to give to them in person and everyone really enjoyed them. Abyss was very excited to get them all three times I gave him some and was very appreciative of it. Abyss actually brought back the one of Sabu and Father Mitchell to give to them when he saw them at the TNA tapings. I heard from Mitchell himself and he said he enjoyed the picture very much and really appreciated it. Sabu had Abyss tell me that he liked it a lot and to thank me. Sonjay was very nice and actually said 'Wow! Too bad I don't look this good in person!' So all of the TNA guys have been very humble and kind to me as well.
RR: That's great to hear how appreciative the TNA guys are. TNA has that indy wrestling feel to it and it seems a lot of the talent there will always give back to the indy scene who helped them get where they are now. Who has been your favorite person to draw? Also, aside from "favorites", which do you think is the subject that ended up being your best drawing?
Rio: Wow that's a tough one. Delirious is one of my favorites to draw mainly because he has such a crazy personality it's fun to capture it in art. Strider and Brett Young are very fun to draw as well since they have very fun characteristics to capture as well. But I'd actually have to say that either the very first picture I drew and gave to Raven, or the picture of Father Mitchell are the ones I think turned out the best so far.
RR: Now, shall I give you the "Rapid Response Round" treatment like I typically do with interview subjects? This is basically my version of "word association". Let's start with 5 specially picked for you... the first will be... Art?
Rio: Ah, my favorite part!
RR: Anime?
Rio:Takes time and patience
RR: Abstract Art?
Rio: Intriguing
RR: Norman Rockwell?
Rio: Very Talented
RR: Pablo Picasso?
Rio: Expressive in his own way
RR: Alright, now it's time for my "Fishbowl Seven". Let me grab my fishbowl and get your reactions and answers to the first 7 that I pull out. The first is... Tag Team or Singles wrestling?
Rio: Singles
RR: Mark Sterling?
Rio: Very talented, I enjoy watching him
RR: Kurt Angle?
Rio: Not a big fan, but he has talent
RR: DVD or VHS?
Rio: DVD
RR: Coke or Pepsi?
Rio: Pepsi
RR: Rey Mysterio Jr?
Rio: Extremely under used and has huge amounts of talent
RR: Jaysin Strife?
Rio: A very talented up and comer who is awesome to watch live.
RR: Alright, that should be enough of that. Well, the floor is yours now, Rio. Anything else you want to add, promote, or whatever?
Rio: Well I just want to thank you for doing this interview with me, and thank everyone else out there for supporting me in what I do. I appreciate everyone's honest opinions and love to hear from everyone. I guess really the only thing I have to promote is my website: http://www.riosrenditions.com where you can see all my newest artwork, and purchase prints of the artwork in my store.
RR: Rio, thanks for taking the time to do this interview. Keep up the great artwork and I'm sure we'll all see you at a CSW show in the future.
Rio: And thank you again, Rick. Keep up your great interviews as well.
