EVACOMICS BLOG

Based on Trompenaar's dimensions of culture: Universalism and Particularism Same rules always apply VS rules change according to situation and relationship. Previous cultural dimensions: Collectivist and Individualist Neutral and Emotional

Many thanks to my fans and friends for coming down to support my book launch at the Makers' Block Festival !!! Currently on-going till 7th July at Suntec City Mall level 2!

Maybe the general perception is that slim people are smart? Or they mistook: "Hey, you look smart today!", for being slim? Hmmm...

After going through much turmoil for the past 7 years figuring out what kind of comics I could draw so that people would follow ( read my frustrated article here  ), I am finally going to have a book!!! Although publishing a book is easy if you have connections and money, I wanted other people (not just friends) to buy and genuinly enjoy them. Talk and Signing on 27th June (Fri) 12:00-14:00 During the 1 hr talk with Q&A, entitled as "The Power of Dreams" (no relation to Honda), I will talk about my childhood obsession of watching cartoons and then inspired to become a comic artist when I was exposed to manga (Japanese comics). I will describe how this dream brought me to study in US and Japan, and the obstacles faced while working towards my dream of being a comic artist and to have my comics widely read around the world. Throughout the presentation, you will see my old comics that didn't work out and what I learned from each failure to move on. I will also talk

It's so silent that I can hear toads croak...

I met up with an ex-classmate during a business networking session and he coincidentally was working on organising this event so I was invited to go down for a demonstration. It was a bit creepy seeing your own photo...

I really miss the great service in Japan~

I am holding a charity sale of 7 pieces of artwork at Sun Ray Cafe right now! They are all hand-painted/drawn, not digital, which means they are one of a kind!

I guess the weather of tropical countries is more tricky to forecast...

New sub-series about odd Japanese English, what do you think about it?

Finally the end of my day tour on 19th Sep 2013 at Enoshima, Kamakura!

Display of emotions between people in US and people in Japan. This is part of my series about cultural differences based on Hofstede and Trompenaar's theories. The first one about Individualist vs Collectivist is here ~ Links: Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions Theory Trompenaar's Model of National Culture Differences

I thought I left Hase area (the one with Big Buddha) for Enoshima in my previous blog post but discovered from my photos that I actually went to another temple: Hasedera (長谷寺). This is what happens when you don't blog soon!

It was really irritating at first. I later read that Japanese use silence to avoid conflicts when they want to reject you. But  I am pretty sure overseas counterparts would greatly appreciate a discussion before concluding that it is not possible in a business scenario.

WHOAH~ 7 months had passed since I left Japan but I still have some blog articles to clear before my next adventure (if my book sells well?)! This is about my trip to Kamakura on 19th Sep 2013. Kamakura is approximately an hour train ride from Tokyo and is a popular tourist destination for short get-aways. It's also called Little Kyoto for the numerous number of temples and shrines.

When my friend asked me out on a holiday, this was my reply: IT'S JUST TOO HOT & CROWDED EVERYWHERE! Karaoke rooms were fully booked No good seats in cinemas Long queue at restaurants  Crowded shopping malls Weather too hot for sight-seeing Museums flooded with kids There was only one thing left for me to do... continue to do work at home... =_=;;

I'm such a sucker for these fancy packaging… I suppose it's good that I returned home to stop me from wiping out my savings...

My comics can be found in the J+PLUS magazine  now! J+PLUS is a bimonthly free magazine targeted at the Japanese community living in Singapore. The magazine is released on the first and third Thursday every month, and can be found at Japanese supermarkets and various restaurants. Because it is for Japanese, everything is written in Japanese except for my comics. The magazine is mainly ad-supported so there are a lot of articles introducing products and services of various shops in Singapore. Why put my year of birth? Because Japanese always put them so I followed XD

I guess other countries are about the same. You only get free paper advertisements on the streets (right?)

My Creative Process in making comics from Evangeline Neo This is the extended version of my presentation for the " Singapore Makers Meetup " held at Singapore Polytechnic library on 25th April, 2014. This is for my fans and aspiring comic artists with steps on how I do my comics and other tips. Follow me at https://www.facebook.com/evacomics Some snapshots of me, my shy fans and Davy who makes really pretty ceramic leaves~

It's funny how Japanese brands try to use as much English as possible, but non-Japanese brands try to use as much Japanese as possible to look Japanese PS. Apologies that I made it sound like I'm stupid, but of course, I know why they do that. It was ironic so I was making fun of the phenomena.

Gather and disperse… (exaggerated) Collectivist and individualist cultures When I was studying in US, I wanted to hang around and talk to my classmates, but many just dashed off to do their own things. However when I was studying in Japan, I wanted to leave asap to do my own thing but somehow many people wandered around to chit chat :/

My Japanese university had an exchange program with a Singapore university and while chit chatting, my Japanese classmates were surprised that we don't hang out with colleagues after work. "Of course we don't hang out with colleagues after work, we go back home to be with our family or hang out with friends," I said. Apparently work is very important to them.

Be careful when you travel to Japan at this time… you will fall into this wicked spell! :P

I became so accustomed to those tapes that I felt awkward when I wasn't given one in Singapore... Do people really need those tapes since we already have receipts? People seem to throw them away at the counters in Japan but if they are forced to keep it, there would be less trash like these tapes. What do you think? More about these tapes:  http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/03/17/reference/proof-of-purchase-tape/

I am always super hungry before the wedding and then very full afterwards…

You have to do this if you work or study in Japan. Don't forget those omiyage (souvenirs)!!!

Continuing my previous post about my visit to a  shrine for marriage on 6th Sep 2013, the last part of our day tour was this Tofu House at Ibaraki prefecture called Sashirosan no Tofuya (佐白山のとうふ屋).

It's really troublesome and expensive to attend a Japanese wedding but it is quite fun and you can read about my experience here :) This one is an earlier version that I worked on but thought it was too naggy:

With calendar: 320×480 ,  768×1024 ,  1024×768 ,  1280×800 ,  1280×1024 ,  1440×900 ,  1920×1080 ,  2560×1440 Without calendar:  320×480 ,  768×1024 ,  1024×768 ,  1280×800 ,  1280×1024 ,  1440×900 ,  1920×1080 ,  2560×1440 Sakura will start blooming in Tokyo from late March onwards! You can check the progress here:  http://www.jnto.go.jp/sakura/eng/index.php Meanwhile, if you like my sakura wallpaper, you can consider buying the print at my website: http://www.eva.sg/EN/shop.html So I have income while working on my book and other webcomics m(_ _)m More March wallpapers from Smashing magazine here: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2014/02/28/desktop-wallpaper-calendars-march-2014/

Accurate as of yesterday, people usually prefer to buy things that are cheap and practical here. Of course, I hope my comic can be proved wrong. Buy prints: http://www.eva.sg/EN/shop.html Donate paypal (SGD): kraystone@yahoo.com POSB savings: 042-26859-3

Well there is always up and down in life so I thought I will just blog about my current down in life: Cash-flow problem. I am pretty sure I will laugh at myself when I become successful and looking back at how crappy I had managed my small business so I am going to document about this experience for future book material and reference for other people in the same situation. And yes, I had to sell my old art materials to generate some income and quit buying things that I don't need, which I suppose it's good (optimistically speaking). The first ridiculous incident. A government school contacted me to ask if they could print my comics into A1 size to decorate their training rooms. The only problem: there will be no payment. Instead, just a credit to my website, claiming that it will help to advertise my work to more people. Sorry, I don't work for free unless it is for a good cause, and supplying you with free designs so you can earn more money from training adult

I still couldn't arrive earlier than the appointed time while I was in Japan…

Based on true story :P She really looked different with and without makeup...

Continuing my  previous post about sunflowers , our tour brought us to this shinto shrine called "Izumo Taisha". This one is a subsidiary branch in Ibaraki prefecture and the main branch is at Shimane Prefecture. Hence, they call it Izumo Taisha Hitachi branch...（出雲大社常陸教会）...urgh…long name.

Somehow nobody ever offered to help me in Singapore, Tokyo or Taiwan…

With calendar: 320×480 ,  768×1024 ,  1024×768 ,  1280×800 ,  1280×1024 ,  1440×900 ,  1920×1080 ,  2560×1440 Without calendar:  320×480 ,  768×1024 ,  1024×768 ,  1280×800 ,  1280×1024 ,  1440×900 ,  1920×1080 ,  2560×1440 Chinese New Year is the most celebrated festival for Chinese all over the world. It falls on 31st Jan this year and we continue to celebrate it for 15 days. My design is based on the traditional Chinese character of the Horse in a shape of a galloping horse with my Evacomics characters riding on it. Red was chosen as the background colour to symbolise prosperity and good luck based on Chinese customs. Wishing everyone a great Horse year! More wallpapers from Smashing Magazine here!

I used to do work out almost everyday in my tiny studio in Tokyo but ever since I move back home, my work out has become mopping the floor, thanks to the strong wind and dust here!

I know it is late January but it is never too late to share with you my beautiful sunflower photos taken back at 6th of September last year :P

We are pretty much programmed to just get into the bus, tap our cards and dash in to look for a seat. But in Japan, drivers always give you a bow and a greeting to thank us for commuting with them. It was so uneasy for me at first to acknowledge the driver and bow back.