We’re looking forward to introducing you to Herbertonic. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Herbertonic, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
My current calling is creation through animation. I want to make stuff move. I used to be afraid that starting this journey late in life without formal training meant I’d never accomplish my dreams, because I felt I would always be running to forever catch-up. I’ve learned that passion and persistence can matter more than credentials. I am just happy to be in the race at all, even if I am taking the scenic route.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey it’s me: Herbertonic. I am a visual storyteller who began creating with the advent of Web3, the decentralized internet built on blockchain technology. I started out designing logos, icons, emojis, cartoon portraits and character designs, which led me to my passion for animation. My brand and style revolve around bold vector lines with bright and playful colors.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful was when I was seven years old, in second grade, just me, a pencil, and a yellow sticky note pad. I don’t remember who showed me how to make a flip book, maybe another kid or the teacher, but I do remember the feeling of making my drawings move. It was a stick figure without arms and with parachute pants for legs. I’ll never forget the powerful feeling of breathing life into a circle, a line, and an upside down heart shape that moved as I flipped the pages. It was magic.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
My future-self spoke to me one time and said, “Stop worrying! Everything’s gonna be okay.” So I am assuming this is exactly what I would tell my younger self in the past. I remember for one of my depressing birthdays I was alone, bar-hopping on 6th Street getting free birthday shots and buying myself shot after shot. My goal was to take as many shots as years that I’d been alive, hoping it would be my last. I came home cocky, thinking I was untouchable and I consumed an extremely large dose of dimethyltryptamine, three giant tokes and I blasted off. After some other experiences I came back to my body crying and dead sober. Sober as a baby. I’ll never forget the words that my future-self told my present-self, which is now my past-self: “Stop worrying! Everything’s gonna be okay.”
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
I think the difference is that fads fade with time, while foundational shifts continue to reshape the world over time. Fads can also be cyclical, but foundational shifts are constant. Hairstyles are a perfect example because I remember being one of those boys who would shave their whole head and only leave the bangs in the front. We’d grow the bangs long to slick back, or keep them short and brushed forward over the eyes. Some would spike them up, frill them to the side, or part them down the middle like a yak. It was a terrible fad, and those school pictures will never see the light of day. I heard a rumor it’s trying to make a comeback, but we won’t let it survive without a fight!
Another example of a fad vs foundational shift could be NFTs vs Blockchain Technology but I don’t want to FUD my bags. Bored Apes anyone?
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
When I let go of my name, role, and possessions, what’s left is my humor, wit, and creativity. From being another cog in the machine of the military to backpacking alone through a foreign country, I’ve always thrived on the substance of human experience over material objects. Maybe it’s because, growing up, I never had all the cool toys. I found solace digging holes in the woods. Sometimes I’d find a box of wet pornographic magazines. I’ve always enjoyed traveling alone because it doesn’t matter what car you drive or what you own back home when we’re both living out of a backpack and hammock, sleeping in a wet and rainy jungle full of mosquitoes. This is why I love traveling because the poor boy always gets the girl.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.herbertonic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herbertonic
- Twitter: https://x.com/Herbertonic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@herbertonic
- Other: https://giphy.com/herbertonic
Image Credits
Herbertonic
