An interview with Halcyon, illustrator of Tết All Around
Tết All Around is a children’s picture book that explores the customs of Tết in Vietnam’s three regions. Could you share with us the thought process you had during this project? I was very happy to accept San Hô’s invitation [to join this project]. It’s been a while since I had the opportunity to draw cute things aimed at young readers. This is also the first book about Tết that I’ve drawn from start to finish, so I also had some worries, but I am very glad that the book was printed really beautifully. I’m sure the readers are very curious as to how you came up with the illustrations featured in the book? Actually, I am one of those children who don’t have a complete grasp on what a traditional Tết looks like across the different regions. So this book was an opportunity for me to gain a deeper understanding through the information and pictures San Hô provided me. I spent a lot of time researching additional information on the specific customs of each region, as well as grasping the differences in the atmosphere between each regional Tết. This learning process made me feel like I was a child again, being amazed by so many exciting things. It made me wish I could personally visit and experience each of these places. I completed the artworks on a digital software, opting for an art style that young readers could easily relate to. I also used soft and warm colour tones, in the hopes it can convey to young readers the familiar atmosphere of Tết around the country. I also want to express my gratitude to San Hô’s team who have been with me during this entire process, whose advice and guidance has helped me a lot. What is your favourite thing about the book? I really like the header section for each place. I looked for the most characteristic pictures of each region, and combined elements from them to fill the space surrounding the text. It’s small, but extensive and quite adorable. There are other little details I enjoy, such as the cat and dog that appear throughout the book, like two friends accompanying our young readers through their journey of exploring Tết. I hope discovering these little interesting details will bring them joy. What do you hope to bring to the readers through Tết All Around? I’m very happy to present the book Tết All Around to you all. I hope that through this book, young readers have an exciting voyage discovering the culture of Tết of the three regions of Vietnam. I will be very happy if reading this book can ignite in young readers the same curiosity and fascination I felt for local customs during my research process. I wish you all a warm and meaningful Tết with your family, and the opportunity to experience Tết in many new places. Halcyon This interview was originally carried out in Vietnamese on San Hô’s Facebook page. English translation by Anh Thư Truong Nguyễn. Original interview: https://www.facebook.com/sanhokids/posts/cu%E1%BB%91n-s%C3%A1ch-tranh-mu%C3%B4n-mi%E1%BB%81n-t%E1%BA%BFt-%C4%91%C3%A3-ph%C3%A1t-h%C3%A0nh-r%E1%BB%99ng-r%C3%A3i-v%C3%A0-nh%E1%BA%ADn-%C4%91%C6%B0%E1%BB%A3c-s%E1%BB%B1-%E1%BB%A7ng-h%E1%BB%99-t%E1%BB%AB-%C4%91%C3%B4/614202854512023/
