F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
On Barnes
Why ‘Alan O W Barnes’ instead of just ‘Alan Barnes’?
I had to find a way to differentiate myself from the great Jazz Saxophonist (Alan Barnes) and the great Sci-Fi writer (Alan Barnes) since what I do is a little like each of them.
How did you get the idea to do your work this way? Why not traditional CDs, Films, or Comics?
I think you just answered your own question. Since I have little interest in touring, I was looking for a way to stand out from the amazingly large crowd of comic writers/artists as well as all the musicians…I figured that if I could do all this as one guy, it would at least be enough of a circus sideshow to turn some heads. Hopefully, once I get someone’s attention, they even like the stories.
Where is there a list of your work?
Sure…but it’s a short list:
Revisionist History (May 08)
Gestures (December ‘08)
I’ve also put out some short form content on this website.
I’ve done lots of work for hire, but I don’t think it represents me very well as an artist so I cannot recommend it in good conscience. ‘11 will see a lot more work produced. TBA soon.
Where do you receive the most monetary reward for my monetary expenditure?
Although I greatly appreciate the question…it really doesn’t matter where you buy (except, obviously, in the used market…which I am a big proponent of, I just don’t make any money for secondary sales), that having been said, look for the best deal. I personally like iTunes and Amazon.
What Conventions Will You Be Attending in 2010?
In 2010 we hope to make Dragon Con and NYCC.
When was the last time you did something creative for fun?
It’s all for fun.
Ever been arrested?
Nope.
Do you collect action figures?
No. But if any came out that were associated with my work, I’d probably get them.
What kind of car do you drive?
Toyota Yaris ‘08. I’m 6′4″, so my wife likes to sing “big man in a little car” as she watches me get in and out of it.
Do you smoke?
Definitely not.
On the Music:
What’s your main instrument?
Electric Bass, I can’t really play anything else… the recordings are about the composing and the story telling. I wouldn’t want anyone to think I really play any of the other instruments. It’s just that my music is so experimental it’s difficult to find players I can afford who can really play the material. So when I am listed as the guitarist, mandolin player, harmonica player, keyboardist, etc. know there is a lot of studio magic involved with my playing those instruments.
What kind of bass do you play?
My main axe is a Roscoe 6-string fretless bass. But I’m mostly playing upright and a Michael Kelly acoustic bass guitar on Revisionist History.
Gestures includes all of my basses. I play the Michael Kelly on Faces and Balance, Upright on Phthalo and Symmetry, Roscoe 6 string fretless on Form and Perspective, and my 5-string Roscoe fretted on Passion. Texture uses a synth bass.
Who are your influences?
Bass: Tommy Sims, Adam Nitti (my first bass teacher), Jaco Pastorious, John Pattitucci, Victor Wooten, Steve Baily, Gary Willis, Edgar Meyer.
Composition: Edgar Meyer, Shostakovitch, Thomas Newman, Debussy, Iain Ballamy, James Newton Howard.
On the Sequential Art:
How do you work? 100% digitally. I use a combination of Sketchbook, Painter, and Photoshop to draw, color and edit.
Who are your main art influences?
Dave McKean, Alex Maleev, Butch Guice, Steve Epting, George Perez, and Neal Adams.
Your main writing influences?
Neil Gaiman, Brad Meltzer, Brian K. Vaughn, Joss Whedon and Brian Michael Bendis
On the Stories
What happened to Clorinda?
No one knows exactly. She died young, and no one knows how. Check out this excerpt from the Rockefeller biography, Titan.
