Tales of Heaven and Earth - Set of 4 Postcards

 A6 prints of original paintings by Jeet, created for Treasury of Vietnamese Folk Tales. 

Tales of Heaven & Earth brings together visual interpretations for four tales:

• The Sacred Crossbow
• The Tale of the Sand Crab
• Mother Liễu Hạnh
• The One Night Marsh.

The Sacred Crossbow - a kingdom brought down by love
A monumental Golden Turtle looms over the composition, sheltering tiny human figures beneath its arc. In scenes of combat and betrayal, arrows and goose feathers drift across an abstracted battlefield, hinting at action and emotion. Delicate ash-toned washi meets bold glittering yellow and precise linework to create a sense of time passing by and cosmic witness.

The Tale of the Sand Crab - why bubbler sand crabs throw sand to the sea, in vain
The artist uses absorbent paper, so the ink and colour pigments soak in and build soft layers over time. He begins with painting over purple Washi paper with black ink. After the ink dries, he then paints over with gouache, which produces soft, vibrant colours and depth, forming a majestic scenery.

Mother Liễu Hạnh -  the heavenly princess who became Vietnam's mother goddess.
The artist renders Liễu Hạnh through a careful vocabulary of traditional motifs. Repeating cloud patterns wrap around her, lifting her figure and suggesting sacred presence. The colours are chosen for feeling rather than realism: deep blues and black hint at the vast space while gold and warm red highlights make her seem important and strong. Together these choices create an atmosphere that is both human and majestic.

The One Night Marsh - the penniless fisherman who wed a princess and vanished into heaven 
The illustrations create dream-like landscapes using painterly techniques inspired by Vietnamese lacquer, Hàng Trống folk prints and Japanese chawan glazes. Beginning with a black ink base and then adding gouache once dry, the technique yields vivid tones and deep, luminous depth that make the scenes feel wondrous and magical.