PROFILE
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As a fashion designer, Cronjé Lemmer has had his creations worn by many prominent women to major events. “I love working with fabric and seeing how a dress evolves to something special when everything is put together.”
His bread and butter
Cronjé says designing clothes is his bread and butter.
“My knack for making garments started at school. I entered three dolls with clothes I designed for them into a competition at the Rand Easter Show when I was in Standard 9. To my amazement I won four prizes with those designs.”
This opened up a world of possibilities for him and played an important part in his decision to study in the creative arts.
“One of my proudest moments was when eight of my fashion creations were worn at the opening of Parliament by people from across the political spectrum. It felt as if I had finally arrived.”
To new chapters and creative endeavours!
Cronjé’s passion for art has branched out into illustration art, which he now teaches at the Potchefstroom Academy. “Teaching is a wonderful experience. It is inspiring to share techniques and ideas and to see how talented young people then discover their true abilities.”
Although teaching and collagraphy keep him busy – he is preparing for another big exhibition in October – he is still actively designing clothes and looking for new challenges.
“I think my greatest achievement is that I feel I have never really worked. I have always just done what I liked to do. I followed my dream and feel blessed that the dream, just like me, will never retire.”
Cronjé lives his dreams
“I am never going to retire,” are the words of Cronjé Lemmer, well-known artist and designer, confirming his commitment to stay creative and productive.
At 70 he has a zest for life that will put many much younger people to shame.
It is his enthusiasm to constantly create that has taken him on various career paths since graduating with a BA degree in speech and interpretation, drama and art history at the former Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (PU for CHE) in 1971.
Since his student days, which he says prepared him for success, he has regularly embarked on new endeavours – first as a fashion designer and entrepreneur and eventually blossoming as an artist and teacher.
Dresses and drama
“I wanted to study fashion design but the university did not offer it. I decided that drama would be a good substitute.” He was soon contracted to design the costumes for university art and theatre productions and the Alabama Student Company.
He qualified as a fashion designer under well-known designer Joey Spiller, after completing his university degree. His talent paid off and soon his dresses were being worn by celebrities such as singers Carike Keuzenkamp and Rina Hugo.
The house where art lives
This success was just the beginning for the restless Cronjé. Being idle is one of two things that he passionately dislikes. The other is bare walls.
A visit to his house in Potchefstroom, which he transformed into a gallery years ago, unveils a treasure trove of beautiful art works.
Most of these were created by himself with the exception of a few by other respected artists and close friends such as Erhardt Grobbelaar and Roy Forte.
Many of Cronjé’s art works have found a home in the collections of the NWU and other corporate and private collectors.
Shaping his art
He enrolled for an etching course that was presented at the former PU for CHE in 1991. He says after seeing a collagraphy demonstration by Annelise Bowker, he immediately knew that this was the technique that would shape his art.
He soon started creating impressive art works, most with religious themes.
His talent in this field not only led to many art exhibitions locally but also internationally in London, Paris and Berlin. “I showcase my art everywhere – from big galleries to art festivals and even markets.”
In this video Cronjé describes how the collagraphy process works.
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Cronjé says his two Ridgebacks, Olga and Ben, are his pride and joy. “They are very loyal. They know when I am happy and when I am sad and know just how to brighten my day.” Ben (4) is the youngest and very playful.
Making his mark in Malta
A few years ago an art collector from Malta, Ingrid Kidder, saw Cronjé Lemmer and fellow artist Erhardt Grobbelaar’s work at a market.
“She bought 17 art works and invited us to exhibit in Malta. A further 64 art works sold at the exhibition, making it one of my most successful exhibitions ever.”
“One of my career highlights is that I was selected by the South African National Association of Visual Arts to attend the Cité International Des Arts in Paris in 2007.”