Illustrator Hoan Phan welcomes the Lunar New Year with Year of the Fire Horse, a vibrant illustration that celebrates the energy, symbolism and traditions of Tết in Vietnam.
Created using dip pen and marker for the line work before being coloured digitally, the piece combines traditional inking techniques with contemporary digital rendering. The result is a lively composition filled with movement, colour and festive atmosphere.
The scene captures the excitement of the new year with fireworks lighting up the night sky. Around them appear familiar elements of Vietnamese celebrations, including the áo dài, apricot blossoms known as hoa mai, and kumquat trees (cây quất), both of which symbolise prosperity, luck and renewal.
For Phan, the project is not only a seasonal celebration but also a reflection of personal identity and cultural roots.
“I wanted the piece to feel joyful and full of life, like the feeling of Tết arriving,” he explains. “These symbols are present in almost every household in Vietnam during the new year, so including them was a way of honouring where I come from.”
The illustration is also part of the artist’s ongoing practice of constantly producing new work. By combining traditional tools with digital techniques, Phan continues to develop a visual language that balances heritage and experimentation.
“Using dip pen and ink keeps the work expressive and immediate. Then digital colour allows me to push the energy further and build the atmosphere of the celebration.”
The final piece has been produced as a fine art print on Canson Edition Etching Rag, a matte paper with a subtle texture that complements the detailed line work.
Hoan Phan was born and raised in a small town in central Vietnam, a region known for its coffee, tobacco and black pepper production. Now based in Tokyo, he works across illustration, decorative art, advertising, books and branding. His practice blends traditional drawing methods with digital techniques, resulting in expressive line work and bold colour compositions.
His work has been recognised by the World Illustration Awards and the Society of Illustrators Los Angeles.
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