A Word With Toy Designer Brovinci About His Career & Divine 9 Collectibles
If you’ve been following me, you know that I’m into designer/art toys. My main method of keeping up with what’s new is by following several accounts and hashtags on Instagram. For this blog, I’ve been trying to find more Black people working in this space to interview about it. One day, one of the hashtags introduced me to artist/toy designer Brovinci. He creates toys/figures dedicated to the Divine 9 or Black Greek fraternities/sororities. I thought that was pretty cool, so I figured I’d learn more about the products and the man behind them.
Brovinci’s government name is Loren Moore and he hails from the Windy City, Chicago and currently calls Johnstown, PA home. At the age of 43, he’s a veteran in the designer toy space and operates out of his own studio. He creates all of his pieces under the Brovinci Code, a code of conduct that he has formulated himself. He attended Iowa State, initially, for architecture to hone his model making skills, but eventually transferred to the Art Institute of Chicago where he graduated with a degree in graphic design in 2000.
He went on to fall in love with creating toys and collectibles. His website explains:
I manufacture every piece myself. It starts with an idea…then that idea is sculpted in clay…once the sculpt is finalized, I create the mold…I then use that mold to create the castings…from there, I sand, hand paint and ship each and every piece that arrives at your door.
The prestige and satisfaction of owning a piece from Brovinci is due solely to the quality, outstanding designs and limited availability. My relentless pursuit of excellence has driven me to push the limits of possibilities, shatter myths and create new work that awakens your inner child.
Beyond creating works of art, I strive to perfect the most important element – the collecting experience itself. Exhilaration. Excitement. Pleasure. Pride. Status. The Desk Junkie experience is real.
Highly valued in limited availability, Brovinci pieces appeal only to the most determined, discerning collectors. Afterall, nothing worth having comes easy. Feed your addiction.
I sat down with Brovinci to get a little more about his background and what he does. Check out our interview, as well as some of his pieces below.
Loren Moore Studios is your studio? If so, what is it like running your own studio?
Loren Moore Studios used to be the name of my studio when I first started. That was the name that my parents gave me. I wanted to create my own name based on my life experiences so I came up with the name Brovinci, so I use that name now. It just has a different kind of vibe to it. I've been running my own studio off and on for the past 15 years or so. I was taught that working a 9-5 was the safest thing to do, but when a company no longer needs you, then a 9-5 doesn't seem so safe. Running my own studio is scary at times, only because I was never taught that it was okay to be your own boss. Now that I'm doing it full time, it doesn't feel like work. I actually work harder for myself than I ever did when working for someone else. My studio is still a work-in-progress because I'm having to unlearn all of the past conditioning that I was taught.
What is the meaning behind the name Brovinci?
Brovinci came from me wanting to create my own identity. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was one of my favorite movies growing up and Leonardo was my favorite. He was the leader. Since he was named after DaVinci, I decided to call myself Brovinci, and since the real-life Leonardo was an extraordinary artist, I wanted to combine my own creativity with the ability to lead myself as well as others.
Why is the Brovinci Code so important to your work?
The Brovinci Code was created because I needed to unlearn all of the things I was taught and replace it with something else. I went to school in order to find a great job, start a family and ride off into the sunset. But that formula is far from the truth and just doesn't work anymore. I knew people that didn't go to college who was making more than me and when a company decides to let you go, it's the worst feeling because you felt like you gave your all only to feel unappreciated. So the Brovinci Code is a philosophy that teaches me that I have to learn how to appreciate myself because no one else will.
What is your background as far as art is concerned?
I went to college because I wanted to be an architect, but I didn't feel as if I could be as creative as I wanted to be. Wanting to create an awesome-looking building was one thing. Making sure it didn't fall down was something I didn't really care about. So I switched my major to Graphic design. Graphic design was okay, but sculpting kept calling me. I never took any sculpting classes while in college. It was just something I naturally gravitated towards. I feel like my sculpting could be much better, but that is just the perfectionist in me. People seem to love my work so I must be doing something right.
How did you get into toymaking?
Throughout my 9-5 career, I was always sculpting something on the side. I was in love with McFarland Toys and Randy Bowen. I loved the type of work they were creating in the comic book genre. I wanted to create statues like that, but I wanted to be different. I didn't want to just focus on comic book characters. I wanted to make toys and collectibles for people outside of the comic book character collector niche.
Why is making Divine 9 pieces your main focus? Are you a member of an organization?
I focused on Divine 9 organizations because their traditions and culture intrigued me. I was introduced to Greek culture while at Iowa State. I never joined a Greek organization, but I wanted to create art that was never done before. For Black Greeks to have such a rich and influential culture, it didn't seem as if they had a lot of art that represented that culture. So I created a few pieces and they loved them. They really appreciate the work. It's a niche that's all my own and that appears to be in demand.
Have you made any toys that aren’t Greek-centered?
I've done some pieces for a video game company that they handed out as awards back in the day. I've also done some commission work, as well as a few independent pieces. But I do have a few of my own characters that I want to release. Hopefully, people will love those as well.
What has been your experience as a Black person in the toymaking space?
It's been great so far because I was able to find a niche in the African-American art world. Members of the Divine 9 actually want to collect new and interesting pieces, but no one is doing it. So that leaves a lot of space for me to navigate. I don't like the idea of people telling me what I can and can't create. Hopefully, it doesn't get to that point. I'm still trying to find my own personal style that reflects who I am as an artist. I'm always trying to figure out what I can create that will make people go, ‘Wow, that's crazy.’ I've been getting that response from the Greek community a lot as of late, but I still want something that's all mine. I'm just using my talent in a way that allows me to be of service to others. That's an important part of the Brovinci Code as well. As long as I can use my talent to fill a need then I'm happy.
What is your process for making your pieces?
I find that the pieces I like the most start off with a quick sketch. From there, I use an oil-based clay to create the sculpt. Once the sculpture is finished I will make a mold, cast the pieces in resin and then apply various paint applications. I'm starting to realize that the important part for me is the sketch. If I don't sketch it out then I will never finish the piece because I will always find something to change.
You make orders as they come in?
Yes, right now I make pieces as they are ordered. As soon as it get a big enough following I plan on having more pieces in stock or just doing limited edition runs of 50. Right now, it's just hard to tell what people like and don't like. I don't want to make 50 copies of a piece that no one likes.
How do you decide what you’re going to put out?
Right now, I'm just creating one piece for each organization at a time. I've been so busy filling orders as they come in that I haven't had time to produce new work on a consistent basis. I'm working on creating a schedule where I can sculpt for at least one hour a day.
Can we expect more pieces soon?
I do have a new piece releasing mid-March. I'm hoping that I can release one new piece every month. Once I can figure out the demand for what I create, I will get a better grasp on how many pieces I can create and release. This doesn't even include the personal work that I want to create.
What is your ultimate goal in your endeavors?
To work for myself and not have to rely on other people to give me what I know I'm worth.
What can people look forward to in the future?
Just more new and exciting works of art that people can either admire from afar or purchase for their collection.
Do you have any advice for anyone trying to get into the toymaking space?
Your creativity is always evolving. My advice is just to keep creating. The universe will lead you to where you need to be. There will always be a group of people that enjoys the work that you create. Just keep creating and have fun in the process. Believe in yourself and know that you don't have to compete with anyone. There is more than enough to go around for everyone.
