A Corpus Christi artist is bringing together two things he loves most — animals and lucha libre wrestling — in a new coloring book that transforms pets into colorful masked wrestlers.
Artist Al Molina recently released a coloring book featuring dogs, cats, turtles, insects and other animals reimagined as luchadores. The book is now available on Amazon and includes character backstories, wrestling moves and playful biographies for each animal.
Molina said the idea started with a series of paintings inspired by his lifelong love of animals and the colorful masks worn by Mexican wrestlers.
“I love animals and I love lucha libre and the masks and how vibrant and colorful they are,” Molina said. “It’s just something I thought would be fun.”
What began as artwork eventually evolved into a coloring book after Molina watched his grandson become captivated by a coloring book during a birthday celebration.
“He had so many gifts that he opened up, but once he got to a coloring book, he just dropped down on the floor and started coloring,” Molina said. “That’s when it dawned on me. Maybe I could make a coloring book out of my little luchadores.”
The book features a variety of animal characters, including some inspired by commissioned pet portraits and others drawn from Molina’s own life.
One featured character is Charlie, Molina’s childhood Doberman from Petronila. The book includes a fictional wrestling biography explaining how Charlie became interested in wrestling after watching matches with his human brother.
“It talks a little bit about how he came about wrestling,” Molina said. “It’s a fun little story and how he became a wrestler. It’ll give you his finishing moves and stuff like that.”
Molina said the goal of the book is simple: make people smile. “It’ll make you laugh. It’ll make you smile. It’s a great book,” he said. “I try to be funny with it.”
The coloring book includes everything from cats and Chihuahuas to turtles and even a fly character, each with their own wrestling persona and story.
Molina hopes the project not only entertains families but also encourages support for local artists and creative projects from the Coastal Bend. To purchase his book, click here.