| Welcome to the celebrated Artist from Gordons Bay,South Africa, |
| All copyrights on Sculpture digital photographs,Bird art,paintings,prints & digital photography by Corne Pienaar/ Birdart.org/RA Fryer 2002/7 |
Born and raised under the clear skies of the Orange Free State, Corne Pienaar, South African artist and wood sculptor,
is a true child of Africa. His work displays a reverence for all Nature and respect for the forces of the elements.
Corne grew up on a farm in the district of Bultfontein – a small town near Bloemfontein. He attended the local primary
school, then progressed to St Andrews in Bloemfontein, where, although he enjoyed his art classes, his passion for art
was not yet all-consuming. Corne was a keen sportsman, later becoming a selector for the Free State cricket and
soccer teams. He was an excellent marksman and part of the Free State Shooting team.
After matriculating, he attended the Teachers’ Training College in Bloemfontein and it was at this time that his art began
to assert itself and he chose art as one of his major subjects.
His first teaching post was at the Brebner High School, where he taught Afrikaans and History and later became head of
department - Afrikaans) – and when the school had difficulty in finding a Woodwork teacher – he volunteered to take the
position. He enjoyed doing woodwork and was keen to transmit and nurture this enjoyment in his pupils. During this
time he was a part-time student at the Free State University where he obtained a BA degree, majoring in psychology.
It was also at this time that Corne began carving front doors and first experienced the satisfaction of receiving
recognition and appreciation for his work.
In 1986 Corne was also involved in ‘The Art Place’ – doing silkscreening, dyeing and over dyeing fabrics for boutiques
all over South Africa. Gradually his involvement in the creative art became his primary interest and he resigned from
teaching to devote all his time to managing the factory. These were his first steps into the world of the professional
artist – apart from his work in the factory, he was still creating front doors and doing carved murals on commission.
In 1990, Corne relocated to the Cape and was appointed Lecturer in Art at the Good Hope College which later became
West Cape College of Education, where he then later became head of the Department of Technology.
He found a ready market for his work in the Cape, and was commissioned to create carved doors and gates for,
amongst others, the Rembrandt Group and Antonie Rupert for the entrance gate to his farm L’Ormarin. Orders for
doors and gates for Game Farms and modern Stately homes came in from as far as Johannesburg from people who
had seen his work.. This signalled to Corne that his work was meeting a demand – which had probably been undefined
in his future clients until they saw examples of his creations – and inspired him to further expand his creative expression.
It was at this time that the re-shuffling of the education system was taking place and colleges were being shut down.
Corne decided to devote himself entirely to his art and established Becon Art CC. Various artists like Ben Dreyer,
Marusa Mason and several overseas artists inspired and contributed to the development of Corne’s particular designs
which were to become the Corne Pienaar trademark.
In 1991 Corne settled in Gordon’s Bay and started making 3-D sculptures.. With Ben Dreyer as partner he embarked
on a journey that began with the production of icons, created from a variety of wood types, and led to the development
of the typical ‘Corne Pienaar work’ that has found a special place in the market today.
Corne’s work is typified by his love of his medium. He is passionate about retaining the character of the wood he uses
– which ranges from the common poplar to the mighty yellowwood, fetched from the forests of Knysna. Each work
preserves the history of the tree it was created from – the strong roots, the upward reaching branches, the cruelly
snapped trunk – all are incorporated into the finished artwork, bearing testimony to the elements of Nature whose hand
first created the art which Corne Pienaar merely made visible.
In 2000 Ben returned to teaching and Lianza Cilliers who became Corne’s partner, soul mate and inspiration took his
place.
Many of Corne’s commissions come to him through architects who recognise the potential of his work to enhance and
add value to the houses they design by visually creating that ambience they seek to offer through their designs.
Corne has a unique approach to marketing his work. Architects and potential clients provide him with photographs of
the spaces judged to be in need of an artwork and Corne then prepare a presentation by placing pictures of some of his
existing works into the spaces to give the client an idea of the effect. This approach has proved very effective and
popular with potential clients – usually leading to instant commissioning of a sculpture or other work.
Corne’s work may be seen in selected shops in Franschhoek, Tyger Valley, Durbanville, Canal Walk and the
Waterfront. Exhibitions are occasionally held in local Galleries, but the sheer scale of his works – some of which are up
to 7 meters tall – means that normal exhibition halls often cannot do justice to the art of Corne Pienaar. Most of his
works are created for a specific space – that space in time where the skill of the artist meets the beauty of the medium
and both combine to form the ambience of ‘rightness’ to soothe and inspire the person who is privileged to share that
space for a while.
It is this feeling of ‘rightness’ and tranquillity that radiates from Corne’s works and is recognised by those discerning
clients all over the world who seek the revitalising effect of being in the presence of true art.
Corne Pienaar’s work has found its way to Mexico, Canada, Norway, USA, Chili, Japan, Sweden, Germany, Spain,
Russia, Australia and New Zealand.
All it takes is a photograph of a space that is calling out to be filled – Corne will do the rest!
is a true child of Africa. His work displays a reverence for all Nature and respect for the forces of the elements.
Corne grew up on a farm in the district of Bultfontein – a small town near Bloemfontein. He attended the local primary
school, then progressed to St Andrews in Bloemfontein, where, although he enjoyed his art classes, his passion for art
was not yet all-consuming. Corne was a keen sportsman, later becoming a selector for the Free State cricket and
soccer teams. He was an excellent marksman and part of the Free State Shooting team.
After matriculating, he attended the Teachers’ Training College in Bloemfontein and it was at this time that his art began
to assert itself and he chose art as one of his major subjects.
His first teaching post was at the Brebner High School, where he taught Afrikaans and History and later became head of
department - Afrikaans) – and when the school had difficulty in finding a Woodwork teacher – he volunteered to take the
position. He enjoyed doing woodwork and was keen to transmit and nurture this enjoyment in his pupils. During this
time he was a part-time student at the Free State University where he obtained a BA degree, majoring in psychology.
It was also at this time that Corne began carving front doors and first experienced the satisfaction of receiving
recognition and appreciation for his work.
In 1986 Corne was also involved in ‘The Art Place’ – doing silkscreening, dyeing and over dyeing fabrics for boutiques
all over South Africa. Gradually his involvement in the creative art became his primary interest and he resigned from
teaching to devote all his time to managing the factory. These were his first steps into the world of the professional
artist – apart from his work in the factory, he was still creating front doors and doing carved murals on commission.
In 1990, Corne relocated to the Cape and was appointed Lecturer in Art at the Good Hope College which later became
West Cape College of Education, where he then later became head of the Department of Technology.
He found a ready market for his work in the Cape, and was commissioned to create carved doors and gates for,
amongst others, the Rembrandt Group and Antonie Rupert for the entrance gate to his farm L’Ormarin. Orders for
doors and gates for Game Farms and modern Stately homes came in from as far as Johannesburg from people who
had seen his work.. This signalled to Corne that his work was meeting a demand – which had probably been undefined
in his future clients until they saw examples of his creations – and inspired him to further expand his creative expression.
It was at this time that the re-shuffling of the education system was taking place and colleges were being shut down.
Corne decided to devote himself entirely to his art and established Becon Art CC. Various artists like Ben Dreyer,
Marusa Mason and several overseas artists inspired and contributed to the development of Corne’s particular designs
which were to become the Corne Pienaar trademark.
In 1991 Corne settled in Gordon’s Bay and started making 3-D sculptures.. With Ben Dreyer as partner he embarked
on a journey that began with the production of icons, created from a variety of wood types, and led to the development
of the typical ‘Corne Pienaar work’ that has found a special place in the market today.
Corne’s work is typified by his love of his medium. He is passionate about retaining the character of the wood he uses
– which ranges from the common poplar to the mighty yellowwood, fetched from the forests of Knysna. Each work
preserves the history of the tree it was created from – the strong roots, the upward reaching branches, the cruelly
snapped trunk – all are incorporated into the finished artwork, bearing testimony to the elements of Nature whose hand
first created the art which Corne Pienaar merely made visible.
In 2000 Ben returned to teaching and Lianza Cilliers who became Corne’s partner, soul mate and inspiration took his
place.
Many of Corne’s commissions come to him through architects who recognise the potential of his work to enhance and
add value to the houses they design by visually creating that ambience they seek to offer through their designs.
Corne has a unique approach to marketing his work. Architects and potential clients provide him with photographs of
the spaces judged to be in need of an artwork and Corne then prepare a presentation by placing pictures of some of his
existing works into the spaces to give the client an idea of the effect. This approach has proved very effective and
popular with potential clients – usually leading to instant commissioning of a sculpture or other work.
Corne’s work may be seen in selected shops in Franschhoek, Tyger Valley, Durbanville, Canal Walk and the
Waterfront. Exhibitions are occasionally held in local Galleries, but the sheer scale of his works – some of which are up
to 7 meters tall – means that normal exhibition halls often cannot do justice to the art of Corne Pienaar. Most of his
works are created for a specific space – that space in time where the skill of the artist meets the beauty of the medium
and both combine to form the ambience of ‘rightness’ to soothe and inspire the person who is privileged to share that
space for a while.
It is this feeling of ‘rightness’ and tranquillity that radiates from Corne’s works and is recognised by those discerning
clients all over the world who seek the revitalising effect of being in the presence of true art.
Corne Pienaar’s work has found its way to Mexico, Canada, Norway, USA, Chili, Japan, Sweden, Germany, Spain,
Russia, Australia and New Zealand.
All it takes is a photograph of a space that is calling out to be filled – Corne will do the rest!