Steff

It started with the simple question, “what would a mermaid wear nowadays?” The world of Steff’s The Little Trashmaid showcases a whimsical take on the effects of plastics and pollution on our oceans. With a healthy dose of humor, creator Steff (s0s2) shows us the experiences and changes her characters undergo, rather than relying on narration to tell them. Her subtle approach allows the reader to glean their own message from her work. Steff loves using the medium of comics to weave over-the-top body language and character expressions together with issues she cares about deeply.

1. What was the inspiration for your webcomic, The Little Trashmaid?

The Mermay Challenge 2019 and ocean pollution. When I drew a mermaid for Mermay and it came to dressing her I didn't want to give her the classic seashell bra. So I thought about what a mermaid would find in the ocean to dress up with these days. That's when the plastic bag came to my mind. One idea lead to another and that's how the Trashmaid was born.

2. What do you like most about creating webcomics?

I enjoy illustrating the ideas I have in mind and to get creative with poses, expressions, and compositions. Exaggerating expressions is so much fun!

3. Do you have any advice for fellow creators about getting started on WEBTOON CANVAS? If so, please share.

• Showing is better than telling: Keep the amount of dialogue low. Draw your characters acting out a scene instead of talking about it. Also keep in mind that many readers use WEBTOON on the phone so make sure your comic is readable even on small screens.

• Done is better than perfect: You don't need perfect art to start a webcomic. An entertaining story has more value.

• Accept feedback: Take constructive criticism and feedback seriously. Also, see if you can learn from it, especially from other professionals in the same field as yours.

4. Can you briefly describe your overall process for making an episode (e.g., planning, software used)?

• First, I plan out an episode in my head and roughly sketch all the panels. Most of the effort, time and thoughts go into the composition of each panel so the comic will be understandable even without dialogue.

• After that I draw more detailed sketches, followed by the line art and coloring.

• I use Adobe Animate CC for the comics and Clip Studio Paint for single images and cover art because it offers more functions.

• There are no rules for the perfect workflow, hardware, or software though. Try different things and find out what works best for you!

5. What is your favorite original character and what was the inspiration for making them?

It's hard to choose, I like them all equally as much!

• Tidy the Trashmaid is inspired partly by my pets and by my kid-self. She is a little dense, but also creative and full of surprises. She is mirroring the condition of the polluted oceans while being completely oblivious about it.

• Ricky, the black-haired boy, is supposed to be a typical 16-year-old boy of the 21st century.

• Spencer, the brown-haired boy, was designed to be the opposite of Ricky in look and behavior.

I hope people can identify with them!

6. What are your goals for your community and fans?

I want to make the characters lovable and convincing so fans can sympathize with them! The comic's goal is to raise awareness about the pollution issue in a bittersweet way. I'm always trying to find a good balance between sad and funny, so the comic can be entertaining and thought-provoking at the same time. I think it's a great way to reach out to people. Combining creativity with a serious topic can be an effective way to sensitize. A change of heart has to come from ourselves and not because someone orders us to change.

7. Why did you choose WEBTOON CANVAS to publish your story?

WEBTOON is a huge platform with a lot of readers and an awesome community. I met a lot of great people there! It's also free to use which is important to me since I want my comic to be accessible for everyone.

8. What is the best thing about publishing on WEBTOON CANVAS?

The platform has a lot to offer and readers can enjoy great comics for free while creators can make money via the ad revenue program and bonus payments at the same time. The staff and community are interactive, encouraging, and support creators with advice and features!

9. Any tips for new creators on maintaining focus or staying motivated?

Draw something unrelated to your comic every once in a while so you don't grow tired of the characters.

If there is a part in your story you are not looking forward to drawing ask yourself if you can cut it out, cut it shorter, or somehow spice it up for yourself so you have more fun working on it.

If you feel like you hit a dead end, switch something up, revisit old episodes or redo the story a little. Don't be afraid to experiment more with characters and storylines. Surprise yourself!

10. What stage of publishing your webcomic was the most challenging for you?

Finding my own uploading pattern was a little hard. It took some time to find a schedule I'm comfortable with so I don't get burned out and still have fun working on the comic.

11. What is the most memorable comment you’ve received on an episode?

Someone commented that the comic made them more cautious of the way they use plastic and it motivates them to recycle and reduce their trash. That was the best thing to me!

12. Where/who do you turn to for inspiration (for your story or artwork)?

Series that inspired The Little Trashmaid directly were South Park, the old episodes of Spongebob and Mr. Bean. The last one especially because the whole show works without any dialogue and is extremely hilarious!

Other than that, I'm inspired by the works of Disney, some anime shows and other webcomics. Real life is also very inspiring and helps me to get new ideas. Sometimes a single word someone says can spark a whole idea for a new comic.

13. If you could tell your past-self one piece of advice about your storyline before starting your webcomic, what would it be?

Start off with longer episodes that built up to the point where more characters come into place.

14. What do you feel is the most memorable/enjoyable/relatable thing your readers will find in your stories?

It might be the way the characters act. They behave natural and aren't above goofy faces and ridiculous poses. They're no super models, just a bunch of kids!

15. Is there anything you wish your readers knew about you or your story?

• 20% of the Patreon income for this comic go to ocean conservation organizations like One Earth – One Ocean eV. and The Ocean Cleanup.

• The story takes place in no particular country. The reason is that I don't want people to blame any certain country for environmental pollution. It's a worldwide problem that affects us all, so no finger-pointing.

• As for some trivia, s0s2 is no team of artists, it's just me. The name is pronounced “es -oh- es-to”, by the way.

• Ricky wears really cool shoes as a visual counterpart to Tidy, who wears no shoes at all.

• Spencer's hair color is the color of how I drink my coffee.

• And last but not least, I love all of my fans and readers! With your fanart, comments and your engagement with the comic you keep me motivated to continue working on this! I appreciate you all, thank you!