About
Arc & Ruin
If you’ve made it this far, then you probably want more of a spiel than what’s on the Home Page, so that’s what this page is all about.
I started this website as a way to organize my artwork, since the Universe I’m building has been spreading in computer files for fifteen years. Which has proven difficult to understand, categorize and review fully with my creativity process. Hence all this.
Creator
Quinn Hale Barton
I am the creator and maintainer of this website and the artwork it contains. On a professional level I have a B.S in Mechanical Engineering and a Minor in Theater Design and Technology from University of Idaho. I am also the holder of a Private Pilot License!
My early life revolved around moving this included attending a baker’s dozen of schools. And though it may seem chaotic, I thrived in that environment. Meeting new people and seeing new places constantly was invigorating. It taught me, from an early age, that between all the moves: connections, art and academics are my foundations.
Doing art was never really a hobby for me, well maybe not entirely true, technically it was before I turned ten. But it changed when I had a Universe start to form in my mind. Then art became a necessity, because I had to get the stuff in my head out.
I taught myself how to do all this more out of survival than for the love of it, but as time has gone on, I’ve learned to love art and all its tangents. Including its effect on others, which is something I never intended, but would never change.
Between writing and art, I’ve been able to achieve a kind of peace that is never truly satisfied, and I don’t think it ever will be. But my hope is, with this website, to share this Universe with those who may find more solace in it than I ever will.
CONTACT
Please feel free to contact me with questions or comments on pieces published, commissions or anything else, thank you!
So, what is this Universe?
Congratulations! If you’ve made even further down the page, that means you really want the spiel on what I’m posting. Which I don’t blame you, some of it may look strange without context. However, to add a little more understanding to what caused all this, what follows is a brief recount of how it all came to be. But if you’re impatient, the text in bold explains what this Universe I keep talking about is in broad terms. Or if you’re looking for contact info, scroll up a little. If you’re still reading this then I would continue since ‘this section’ tells the story leading up to all the Universe…stuff, enjoy!
It started when I was ten, the same time I took a gap year… not from behavior or lack of academic ability, but because the teacher was not my cup of tea. I was still in the golden years of childhood, fifth grade, and between trying to homeschool myself and running around with friends in the rainforest my brain exploded with ideas. In other words, my Universe’s big bang.
The basics that led to this all this, was a combination of loving superheroes, science-fiction, fantasy and everything in between. In addition to this, I noticed I had a lot of friends in my life weren’t seen very often in these genres I loved so much, and I wanted to change that. None of these things have changed, though I can say that what I’ve made is not limited by these headings.
I started with five characters which turned into ten, which became twenty-one, and which now sits at 100+. Each with their own stories, personalities and skills. But this doesn’t even touch on the world building, research and evolution that has occurred in last decade.
However, despite all this effort, I have been private about my work because of past bad experiences with intellectual property being stolen. Though if I’m going to be honest, I thought it wasn’t ready, and I still don’t think so. But as a wise father and brother have told me, “None of it matters unless you choose to share it with others.” And for those words I am truly grateful because I’m finally sharing this Universe, imperfect as it may be, with the world.
As time goes on, I’ll share more about these characters, places, and ideas I have cherished and carried with me for years with you. And finally get to the point of publishing it into something coherent too… but I might be getting too far ahead of myself.
So, what is this Universe? It’s a place guarded by Sentries, in a faction called T.S.S.C from another group called CHAOS. Which threatens all existence, constantly, as it always does. The story of this Universe takes place across space and time, with all kinds of cognizants. Each story is a vignette into a generation of people, who must work within the constant push and pull of the Universe to continue existence as it is known.
Now if you’re not scared off by what you’ve read so far, I would suggest having a look around the entries and archive to get a better idea of the people and stuff involved in the, slightly vague, statement I put above. And as I’ve stated before, as time goes on, I will start to post more information on the characters, ideas and places I post that belong to this Universe once I get farther along. But for now this is all I’m saying.