Gen Z artist Veya Sebastian turns daydreams into webtoon

The webcomic follows a cast of characters through romance, drama and relatable struggles. Its growing readership has also led fans to closely examine the characters and visual details and predict developments in the story.

Sebastian said she hopes “Head Over Heels” can encourage readers who have experienced hardships to heal and move forward.

“Let’s move forward but move on stronger,” she said. “Let’s stay open to new people and opportunities rather than closing ourselves off because we were hurt in the past.”

Sebastian started drawing when she was four years old, inspired by her grandmother, who enjoyed painting. She later developed an interest in cartoons, anime, manga and online webcomics.

She began creating the characters for “Head Over Heels” in 2021, although they initially had no story.

Sebastian decided to pursue the project in 2024 after spending a month dealing with stomach problems. The experience made her realize she should not continue postponing her dream of becoming a webcomic artist.

“I might as well draw now,” she said.

The characters of “Head Over Heels” are inspired by some of Sebastian’s favorite things.

The lead character, Elaine Blossom, was based on a strawberry, which Sebastian described as cute and sweet but slightly sour at first. Elaine’s personality similarly develops from being bold and sassy to showing a sweeter side.

The male lead, Landon Maesse, was inspired by black sesame, a traditional Chinese dessert flavor. His black hair and appearance fit the romantic hero archetype, while his mole was designed to resemble a sesame seed.

Sebastian produces the webcomic digitally using Clip Studio Paint, a tablet and a stylus. Her process includes writing episode summaries and scripts, storyboarding, sketching, line art, coloring and editing.

Her artistic influences include anime, manga, Western cartoons and fashion. She has cited Ai Yazawa, creator of “Paradise Kiss,” and artist Kotteri, creator of “Veil,” among her influences.

Despite initially having no readers for four months after launching “Head Over Heels,” Sebastian continued uploading new episodes. She eventually reached her first 100 readers before social media helped expand her audience.

Sebastian also has a following on TikTok as a makeup influencer, where she creates looks inspired by webtoon characters. Her previous Instagram art account and support from family and friends also helped promote her work.

She plans to finish “Head Over Heels,” develop stories for its supporting characters and create more original projects in the future.

For aspiring artists, Sebastian has one message:
“If you want to make something, just make it. Even if only a few people see it at first, even if nobody sees it for months. Your story is unique and there will be people who relate to it.” — Jan Milo Severo