#Devin Elle Kurtz

[thecollectibles]

Art by Devin Elle Kurtz

[comparativetarot]

Ten of Cups. Art by Devin Elle Kurtz, from Chromatic Fates Tarot.

[joifish]

I downloaded Devin Elle Kurtz's grass and plant brush sets from Gumroad and played around with them.

[st-just]

'Dad, it's the Noodle Dragon!' by Devin Elle Kurtz

[haaaaaaaaaaaave-you-met-ted]

An Unexpected Visitor on Christmas Morning by Devin Elle Kurtz

[psyhaven]

The Teacher by Devin Elle Kurtz

[cacodaemonia]

[katzilluztration]

Tested out Devin Elle Kurtz's Cityscape Brushset. It was super fun to play around with. I wish I discovered it sooner for an old project I worked on in school.

[anymousse]

Free comic book day is always sooo fun. I discover new things all the time. These were the non-freebies.

And a close-up of the gorgeous hardcover trades for Jim Henson’s The Storyteller

I’ve been collecting the individual issues of Storyteller for awhile now, but have been wanting to buy the trades.

[soli-terri]

Art by Devin Elle Kurtz.

Digital art

[granny-nyan]

made a test with my new brush pack... loosing my shit <3

[kstengaard]

Working on my BG painting portfolio, really enjoyed painting this layout by Devin Elle Kurtz

[sporadic-collection-wolf]

Devin Elle Kurtz

♥️🐉

[syiwii]

out the window

i want to touch the grass and the leaves while they are still green

[raybeanschildrenslit]

Favorite Picture Book - Mother of Sharks

Mother of Sharks Melissa Cristina Márquez, Devin Elle Kurtz (Illustrator) Published 2023 by Penguin Workshop

One of my favorite picture books of late by far is the wonderful Mother of Sharks by Melissa Cristina Márquez with gorgeous illustrations by Devin Elle Kurtz.

This colorful adventure follows a young girl named Melissa, we can most likely agree she is a young version of our author, as she takes a magical journey through the ocean, time, and space with a little Hermit Crab named Jaiba. With text in both English and Spanish, our duo explores the impact humanity has had on the ocean and it's environments as well as inhabitants- with specific discussion on sharks. Meli and Jaiba save a Mako Shark, do research in a library about sharks, and follow a Shark Researcher that looks so much like Meli.

This book is sweet in its art and representation and also plays a role in introducing children to concepts of environmental impact and the role we play in it as well as the research we do to try and right these wrongs. I adore this book for these reasons, plus I am a big fan of Sharks. Children- readers in general- should be able to explore their interests and they deserve to see themselves represented so beautifully through text and image. I adore the color, lighting, and wide two page spreads the illustrator constructed, showing incredible skill and ability in her art. The adventure and messages that prompt these images are so wonderfully handled and it makes me with the story was so much bigger and wider. The author even takes the time to treat us- the reader- with a letter, glossary, resources, and translations at the end of the book.

Text like this would make just general great representation for readers who see themselves reflected in the character Meli as well as readers who need to know that they can find what they love throughout time and space to invest in. This book would also be a great part of an environmental collection as a whole or with particular focus on the ocean- very important discussions to be having given the impact we have has as humans on this earth and what we can do to learn from it and try to take care of its wounds.

I found this book at one of the independently owned shops near me and am thankful for what they have collected and presented to our community. I hope to see Mother of Sharks enter the collections of my jobs.

-Ray 01/11/2024

Márquez, M. C. (2023). Mother of sharks. Penguin Young Readers Group.

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UPDATE: Favorite Picture Book Evaluation

Released in 2019, Children’s Literature in Action: A Librarian’s Guide (3rd ed.) by Vardell discusses Evaluation Criteria for Children’s Picture books in Chapter 2. Criteria listed for Evaluation of Children’s picture books include the following according to Vardell: Characters, Plot, Setting, Theme, Style, Illustrations, and Cultural Markers (2019). Let’s use this to evaluate Mother of Sharks by Melissa Cristina Márquez, illustrations by Devin Elle Kurtz.

Characters: We have two major characters in this story: a human child named Meli who loves the ocean more than most anything and Jaiba the hermit crab who guides Meli through the ocean and helps her and readers understand the impact we can have on our environment. Meli stands in as the author as this is a piece of autobiographical content meets the fantastical- she could also represent the reader as an ocean lover wanting to learn and do more regarding the ocean. Jaiba acts as a guide or mentor for us, helping us understand what we can do to better take care of the environment and its inhabitants and that there IS something we can do and be to achieve this.

Plot: The plot follows Meli as she takes one last play in the ocean before returning home that turns into an adventure through the ocean and time with the hermit crab Jaiba as her guide. We discover and enjoy Meli’s love and care for Sharks and the ocean and that there is a place for her to express that and make a difference as she gets older. The plot isn’t heavy on the reader or listener yet we understand what the author is trying to tell us.

Setting: Most of this story takes place in different biomes or areas of the ocean with a few scenes leaving it for an amphitheater, the library, and the beach shore. 

Theme: Even without referencing the letter to the reader in the back of the book, readers can get a sense that this story is about discovering that we can make a difference in the world and even have it be our jobs. That there has been a great impact from humans on natural environments that we need to be aware of, address, and do something about.

Style: The style of this picture book blends fantastical elements of travel through the ocean and time with autobiographical roots in the author’s life and experiences- in a way making biographical/ autobiographical work more accessible for audiences that struggle with or don’t normally gravitate to it. This also is a great sort of middle ground for fiction and nonfiction given the way in which our story is executed and the discussions and information provided throughout and in the back of the book.

Illustrations: Devin Elle Kurtz does an amazing job bringing the imagery of this story to life through fantastical, colorful, atmospheric scenes and pages. Between the text and graphic elements, there is an easy flow to follow and their combination is a treat. Lighting is dynamic and colors intoxicating as we watch the world of the story shift and change from windows of illustrated scenes to enveloping two page spreads; making it one of those stories you really like to just sit and appreciate the artistic element and look for details in it. Of course not all illustrated books need to be this extravagant and all around, wide/ varied in its technical application and execution but it’s a fantastic treat.

Cultural Markers: Things to note between the text and illustrations is that our main character Meli isn’t white. She is Hispanic and this representation is expressed through the way the character is illustrated, through the combination of Spanish and English Text, and having Meli see someone on stage- a female scientist of color- who looks just like her. 

Quote: Jaiba transported us to a theater with cozy red chairs that faced a big shiny stage. Onstage was a woman with wild, curly hair giving a speech. I looked around at the crowded theater and couldn’t believe it; a real-life scientist - and she looked just like me! “Female researchers, especially those of color, are like female sharks lurking in the darkness,” the woman said. “We’re here, but no one is paying attention.” (2023)

-Ray 01/18/2024

Márquez, M. C. (2023). Mother of sharks. Penguin Young Readers Group.

Vardell, S.M. (2019). Children's literature in action: A librarian's guide (3rd ed.). Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio.

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Oh they could NEVER make me hate you

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