MOUNT VERNON — A book signing marking the release of the children’s book “Rupert’s Tales, The Wheel of the Year,” illustrated by local artist Tonia Bennington Osborn, will take place Saturday at Paragraphs Bookstore in Mount Vernon. Published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd., and authored by Kyrja Withers, “Rupert’s Tales” tells of the adventures of a rabbit who sets out to discover how and why people leave their homes to celebrate holidays in the forest where he lives, meeting up with many animal friends along the way.
“This book is for almost any age,” said Osborn. “The author said it is for all children, all ages.”
Osborn, who owns the Red Z Gallery at 7 N. Main St., was contacted by Withers who saw some of her work on a website.
“She said she liked my drawings and wanted me to do the illustrations for her book. She loved how my drawings just fit into her story,” said Osborn. “She e-mailed some sketches from her story and I just took it from there. I read the book, and the illustrations just kind of came to me. It just developed.”
The first of 75 drawings she submitted to Withers was used as the book’s cover illustration.
Although Osborn has never had illustrations featured in a book before, she has done much commission work, has sold internationally and has been featured in artistry books including Artwanted.com, a book featuring many famous artists. Much of her work is pastel paintings on suede, including the illustrations for “Rupert’s Tales.”
Getting her start at drawing at a young age, she said her first artwork was on her mom’s cupboards at home.
