Each week artist Howie Noel, creator of online comic heroine and savvy paranormal pop-culture investigator Tara Normal, checks in with a "making-of" blog entry about his upcoming graphic novel, Tara Normal and the Case of the Boyfriend Robbers From Outer Space. Howie uses this space to give a first look at artwork and to update readers on the pain and suffering of writing a full-length comic book. When not blogging, Howie also contributes a special edition of the Tara Normal strip to TAPS Paramagazine and spends way too much time on Twitter @hcnoel.
'Tara Normal' graphic novel: Tunes for toons
As with a lot of people, I find music helps me get through my day. Music certainly helps motivate me when working on art and writing; any extra help in keeping me energized when working late into the night coloring or drawing is appreciated.
One of the songs I've added to my Tara Normal playlist in iTunes is AFI's "It Was Mine." The paranoia described in the song fits with a lot of the conspiracy angles in the book, and it emotionally fits the tone of the action scenes.
Give it a listen and next week I'll have another look at the art process focusing on digital coloring!
Showing posts with label Howie Noel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Howie Noel. Show all posts
'Tara Normal' gets graphic: On the background
Each week artist Howie Noel, creator of online comic heroine and savvy paranormal pop-culture investigator Tara Normal, checks in with a "making-of" blog entry about his upcoming graphic novel, Tara Normal and the Case of the Boyfriend Robbers From Outer Space. Howie uses this space to give a first look at artwork and to update readers on the pain and suffering of writing a full-length comic book. When not blogging, Howie also contributes a special edition of the Tara Normal strip to TAPS Paramagazine and spends way too much time on Twitter @hcnoel.
'Tara Normal' graphic novel: Background info
Page One for my graphic novel seemed like it was going to be so simple. It turned out to be more complicated when I began to color it this week. I wanted the art to set up a mood for the opening of the book and hopefully the sample art I provided with this blog entry does that.
The shape of the comic panel itself is influenced by the widescreen look of films. I see the story ideas play out in my mind like a movie so for the graphic novel, I felt a cinematic format would work best. I'm influenced by film and TV heavily as a visual artist and I hope this panel shows a dramatic quality in terms of setting and tone.
For the Tara Normal webcomic, I mostly focus on drawing characters' faces and expressions. But for the graphic novel, I have set a goal to make the backgrounds and settings equally as important to enhance the story's cinematic feel.
So what do you think? Any movie that this panel reminds you of?
Next week I'll share a little bit about how music helps me write and draw!
'Tara Normal' graphic novel: Background info
Page One for my graphic novel seemed like it was going to be so simple. It turned out to be more complicated when I began to color it this week. I wanted the art to set up a mood for the opening of the book and hopefully the sample art I provided with this blog entry does that.
The shape of the comic panel itself is influenced by the widescreen look of films. I see the story ideas play out in my mind like a movie so for the graphic novel, I felt a cinematic format would work best. I'm influenced by film and TV heavily as a visual artist and I hope this panel shows a dramatic quality in terms of setting and tone.
For the Tara Normal webcomic, I mostly focus on drawing characters' faces and expressions. But for the graphic novel, I have set a goal to make the backgrounds and settings equally as important to enhance the story's cinematic feel.
So what do you think? Any movie that this panel reminds you of?
Next week I'll share a little bit about how music helps me write and draw!
'Tara Normal' gets graphic: Making of a comic book series
Each week artist Howie Noel, creator of online comic heroine and savvy paranormal pop-culture investigator Tara Normal, checks in with a "making-of" blog entry about his upcoming graphic novel, Tara Normal and the Case of the Boyfriend Robbers From Outer Space. Howie uses this space to give a first look at artwork and to update readers on the pain and suffering of writing a full-length comic book. When not blogging, Howie also contributes a special edition of the Tara Normal strip to TAPS Paramagazine and spends way too much time on Twitter @hcnoel.
'Tara Normal' gets graphic: The cover
(ahem, in best Troy McClure voice) Hi, I'm H.C. Noel (Howie Noel). You may remember me from such sneak previews as the Tara Normal One-Panel Preview...
So, I recently became represented by the awesome literary agent Bree Ogden of Martin Literary Management. She's currently helping me bring my creation Tara Normal to the literary world in the form of a cool series of paranormal graphic novels. Right now Tara investigates with TAPS, the stars of SyFy's Ghost Hunters
, in her own comic in their Paramagazine.
But my graphic novel series will explore how she became a professional paranormal investigator in the first place. I'm really excited to share her backstory and all of her supernatural adventures with you. Along the way, I'm going to offer some behind-the-drawing desk information about my journey in making my paranormal comics, and I"ll give you a sneak peek on how I create my art.
So the best place to start with the artwork of the first book is the cover. I had several thumbnail sketches and my wife Shelley helped me choose the one that had the most exciting composition. From there I penciled and inked it. The coloring stage, which I do in Photoshop, is always an exciting step in creating my comic art. I get to do cool effects and lighting and in this series, I'm really going to try and push the moodiness factor more than I have in other artwork.
The cover for Book 1: Tara Normal & The Case of the Boyfriend Robbers From Outer Space features my version of aliens, and on this cover, they have red eyes to make them appear creepier and help them stand out on the blue background. I went with a more painterly approach when I colored Tara than I usually do when I work on the webcomic.
I'm really happy with the result and I'm looking forward to continuing to color the rest of the book this way.
My wife helped me revamp the Tara Normal logo for the cover. I wanted it to be more slimy and realistic so an actual photographic of slime makes up the 3D effect on the logo. I also reworked the shiny highlights. She also worked on the placement and design of the subtitle text creating a very cool lightning graphic to go behind the words to add an extra element to the cover.
I really hope you enjoy this look behind-the-scenes and I can't wait to share more art of Tara Normal next week! In the meantime, please check me out tonight (Tues, July 27) at 8 p.m., ET, as I join Jeff Belanger on his show, 30 Odd Minutes to discuss all things Tara.
'Tara Normal' gets graphic: The cover
(ahem, in best Troy McClure voice) Hi, I'm H.C. Noel (Howie Noel). You may remember me from such sneak previews as the Tara Normal One-Panel Preview...
So, I recently became represented by the awesome literary agent Bree Ogden of Martin Literary Management. She's currently helping me bring my creation Tara Normal to the literary world in the form of a cool series of paranormal graphic novels. Right now Tara investigates with TAPS, the stars of SyFy's Ghost Hunters
, in her own comic in their Paramagazine.But my graphic novel series will explore how she became a professional paranormal investigator in the first place. I'm really excited to share her backstory and all of her supernatural adventures with you. Along the way, I'm going to offer some behind-the-drawing desk information about my journey in making my paranormal comics, and I"ll give you a sneak peek on how I create my art.
So the best place to start with the artwork of the first book is the cover. I had several thumbnail sketches and my wife Shelley helped me choose the one that had the most exciting composition. From there I penciled and inked it. The coloring stage, which I do in Photoshop, is always an exciting step in creating my comic art. I get to do cool effects and lighting and in this series, I'm really going to try and push the moodiness factor more than I have in other artwork.
The cover for Book 1: Tara Normal & The Case of the Boyfriend Robbers From Outer Space features my version of aliens, and on this cover, they have red eyes to make them appear creepier and help them stand out on the blue background. I went with a more painterly approach when I colored Tara than I usually do when I work on the webcomic.
I'm really happy with the result and I'm looking forward to continuing to color the rest of the book this way.
My wife helped me revamp the Tara Normal logo for the cover. I wanted it to be more slimy and realistic so an actual photographic of slime makes up the 3D effect on the logo. I also reworked the shiny highlights. She also worked on the placement and design of the subtitle text creating a very cool lightning graphic to go behind the words to add an extra element to the cover.
I really hope you enjoy this look behind-the-scenes and I can't wait to share more art of Tara Normal next week! In the meantime, please check me out tonight (Tues, July 27) at 8 p.m., ET, as I join Jeff Belanger on his show, 30 Odd Minutes to discuss all things Tara.
Tara Normal: One Panel Preview
Each week at Paranormal Pop Culture, we give you a taste, morsel, delicious crumb and even appe-teaser of a new Tara Normal comic contained in one single panel from the upcoming installment of the adventures the coolest comic paranormal investigator out there. You will be left with many questions (What will happen next? How will Tara get out of this jam? What does it all mean? Why is there gratuitous comic nudity on display??), but few answers - until the next day when you can head over to TaraNormal.com to see the entire entry. We also encourage online harassment of creator Howie Noel at the site and on Twitter @hcnoel. Enjoy!
Tara Normal: One Panel Preview of ...
Case #2: The Men Who Stare At Goatmen, Scene 29
This week, skeptical paranormal investigator Jake Westo - whom we first met in Scene 12 - tries to call an end to all of the craziness with Captain Unknown Soldier.
Will Jake be made a believer after hearing Cap's amazing origin story and early Goatman interactions? Will Jake don tights and become the hero's doomed sidekick ala Bucky? Will he break out into song and dance, and perform a Broadway revue that sums up major plot points?
Probably not...
BUT find out tomorrow at TaraNormal.com.
Tara Normal: One Panel Preview of ...
Case #2: The Men Who Stare At Goatmen, Scene 29
This week, skeptical paranormal investigator Jake Westo - whom we first met in Scene 12 - tries to call an end to all of the craziness with Captain Unknown Soldier.Will Jake be made a believer after hearing Cap's amazing origin story and early Goatman interactions? Will Jake don tights and become the hero's doomed sidekick ala Bucky? Will he break out into song and dance, and perform a Broadway revue that sums up major plot points?
Probably not...
BUT find out tomorrow at TaraNormal.com.
Tara Normal: One Panel Preview
Each week at Paranormal Pop Culture, we give you a taste, morsel, delicious crumb and even appe-teaser of a new Tara Normal comic contained in one single panel from the upcoming installment of the adventures the coolest comic paranormal investigator out there. You will be left with many questions (What will happen next? How will Tara get out of this jam? What does it all mean? Why is there gratuitous comic nudity on display??), but few answers - until the next day when you can head over to TaraNormal.com to see the entire entry. We also encourage online harassment of creator Howie Noel at the site and on Twitter @hcnoel. Enjoy!
Tara Normal: One Panel Preview of ...
Case #2: The Men Who Stare At Goatmen, Scene 28
This week Captain Unknown Soldier, host of Captain Unknown Soldier's Scary Movie Show, tells Tara Normal his origin story ...well, actually he just hands her a copy of his origin story issue from his comic book series.
But, is it a limited edition comic? Will Captain Unknown Soldier sign it? With his own name? Will he instruct Tara on proper polypropylene bagging a collector's issue like this?
Find out tomorrow at TaraNormal.com.
Tara Normal: One Panel Preview of ...
Case #2: The Men Who Stare At Goatmen, Scene 28
But, is it a limited edition comic? Will Captain Unknown Soldier sign it? With his own name? Will he instruct Tara on proper polypropylene bagging a collector's issue like this?
Find out tomorrow at TaraNormal.com.
Tara Normal: One Panel Preview
Each week at Paranormal Pop Culture, we give you a taste, morsel, delicious crumb and even appe-teaser of a new Tara Normal comic contained in one single panel from the upcoming installment of the adventures the coolest comic paranormal investigator out there. You will be left with many questions (What will happen next? How will Tara get out of this jam? What does it all mean? Why is there gratuitous comic nudity on display??), but few answers - until the next day when you can head over to TaraNormal.com to see the entire entry. We also encourage online harassment of creator Howie Noel at the site and on Twitter @hcnoel. Enjoy!
Tara Normal: One Panel Preview of ...
Case #2: The Men Who Stare At Goatmen, Scene 27
In this week's preview, Tara questions Captain Unknown Soldier, the host of the "Scary Movie Show" - and the Dungeon Master of an "elite" command unit of monster hunters.
Tara wants to know how Cap is involved in the Goatman mystery and how he knows about her.
Also, who is the Goatman victim that Mayor Bowie told them about?
Find out tomorrow at TaraNormal.com.
Tara Normal: One Panel Preview of ...
Case #2: The Men Who Stare At Goatmen, Scene 27
Tara wants to know how Cap is involved in the Goatman mystery and how he knows about her.
Also, who is the Goatman victim that Mayor Bowie told them about?
Find out tomorrow at TaraNormal.com.
Tara Normal: One Panel Preview
Beginning this week, myself and the folks at Paranormal Pop Culture are proud to introduce a collaboration with Tara Normal, the coolest comic paranormal investigator we've had the fortune of ogling. Each week we'll give you a taste, morsel, delicious crumb and even appe-teaser of a new Tara comic contained in one single panel from the upcoming installment. You will be left with many questions (What will happen next? How will Tara get out of this jam? What does it all mean? Why is there gratuitous comic nudity on display??), but few answers - until the next day when you can head over to TaraNormal.com to see the entire entry. We also encourage online harassment of creator Howie Noel at the site and on Twitter @hcnoel. Enjoy!
Tara Normal: One Panel Preview of ...
Case #2: The Men Who Stare At Goatmen, Scene 26
In this panel, we see Captain Unknown Soldier, host of the "Scary Movie Show," arrive to ... do what, exactly?
He's saying something that may be of importance to Tara as she hunts for tips at the shack of the murderous goatman's latest victim.
Maybe he wants to team up and fight the goatman together. Or perhaps he's just scolding her for drop-kicking his wizarding buddy Ted from Scene 25. Or perhaps he's just sharing laundry tips on how to keep red spandex tights vibrant.
Find out tomorrow at TaraNormal.com
Tara Normal: One Panel Preview of ...
Case #2: The Men Who Stare At Goatmen, Scene 26
He's saying something that may be of importance to Tara as she hunts for tips at the shack of the murderous goatman's latest victim.
Maybe he wants to team up and fight the goatman together. Or perhaps he's just scolding her for drop-kicking his wizarding buddy Ted from Scene 25. Or perhaps he's just sharing laundry tips on how to keep red spandex tights vibrant.
Find out tomorrow at TaraNormal.com
Happy Fabulous First Tara Normal!
Today marks #52 of Tara Normal, the name of our favorite girl ghost and ghoul detective comic.Following the adventures of, you guessed it - Tara Normal, a pop-culturally savvy female paranormal investigator - the comic is the funny, slightly touched lovechild of a hot, sweaty fourway between The Venture Bros., MAD Magazine, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and creator Howie Noel.
It's funny, ironic and a much needed addition to the paranormal community. Along with the special TAPS edition of the comic - which appears every issue of the Paramag - Tara gets a fresh installment each Wednesday.
So happy birthday to Tara Normal. And if you're not a fan of hers, we think less of you.