Veya Sebastian was around 12 when she discovered Webtoons. At 21, the Filipino artist has moved from reading digital comics to creating one, writing and illustrating the series “Head Over Heels” under the name FriedStrawberry.
Her work begins long before an episode appears on a phone screen. Sebastian develops the story and its characters, writes summaries and scripts, then turns them into storyboards.
She also handles the line art, coloring, backgrounds, special effects, and speech bubbles. She produces around three episodes a month.
It is a demanding schedule for someone working across both sides of comics production. Sebastian enjoys drawing, which she has done since childhood, but finds writing more challenging.
As the series grows, she has to keep track of what her characters have done, what motivates them, and whether new developments remain consistent with the plot.
Her influences include “Sailor Moon” and the work of Japanese manga artist Ai Yazawa, particularly “Nana” and “Paradise Kiss”. Their expressive visuals and character-focused stories helped shape her interest in a form that brings writing and illustration together.
Sebastian’s route into publishing reflects how digital platforms have opened another path for young creators. Webtoon lets artists release original comics in episodes and reach readers directly. A creator can begin sharing work without first securing a book deal or a place in a traditional comics publication.
The format also changes the relationship between a story and its audience. Readers encounter new installments as they are published, return to follow the characters, and can discuss developments with other fans online.
For a creator, each update is both a continuation of the story and a chance to build a readership.
That direct path carries its own pressures. Keeping a serialized comic going requires more than an idea and the ability to draw. Episodes must be planned, written, illustrated, and finished often enough for readers to stay with the story.
For Sebastian, who handles those tasks herself, the pace of publication makes consistency part of the creative work.
From discovering Webtoons as a child to producing “Head Over Heels” as a young adult, Sebastian has found a way to combine the two things that held her attention: drawing characters and deciding where their stories go next.
