A Leap of Faith
Photography: Courtesy of Frogman, Inc.
Who’d ever guess that something as simple and unassuming as a sculpture of a frog could hop its way into the hearts of thousands? And further, who would guess that a now international frog following would be based in Park City, Utah?
Tim Cotterril, a.k.a “Frogman,” creates foundry-cast bronze frog sculptures finished with shimmering jewel-like patinas. Rich, mottled colors like spring and emerald greens, or deep burgundies are pleasing to the eye. The solid weight of the pieces and their smooth finish in the hand are satisfying and staying. The expressions and positions of the frogs are accurate and appealing, and fitting names such as “Eavesdropper,” “Bottoms Up,” and “Social Climber” evoke a smile. Even for non-collectors, these sculptures, ranging from sultry to beautiful to downright cute, capture the attention of even the most finicky observer.
A native of England, Tim’s love of nature eventually became the impetus for his artwork. In his book, “Frogman, The Art of Tim Cotterill,” Tim writes, “As a child, we lost ourselves in the woods all day, damming streams and collecting tadpoles, frogs, newts, toads and birds’ eggs.”
Armed with a mechanical engineering degree, Tim’s love for motorcycles led him to a career in auto repair. He later moved on to stone masonry and landscape architecture. All the while, he was welding scrap metal to create handcrafted motorbikes, automated bar stools, and increasingly, metal sculptures of the birds he loved so very much—mostly hawks and owls. Enamored by American motorcycle magazines and images of “chopper” chrome glistening in the California sun, Tim eventually settled in Venice Beach, California, where he started selling his artwork.
Tim began sculpting frogs during the period when his 17-year marriage was ending in divorce. “Throughout the centuries, frogs have symbolized many things to people around the world,” Tim writes. “Energy, good luck, royalty, fertility, magic potions, charm are some of them. In capturing the essence of frogs in my sculptures, I had begun the process of healing my troubled mind, and capturing my love of life once again.
Strong memories of the form and movements of frogs grew into a desire to create them in sculpture. I was intrigued by the challenge of capturing their personalities. Some of the elements of a frog’s shape melded in my mind, inspired by the delightful chubbiness of a baby, or the grace and beauty of a well-shaped human leg. This perspective, combined with what I imagine as an almost cartoon-like quality of a frog’s expression, engaged my imagination. The frogs I sculpted seemed to offer something intrinsically appealing to many people.”
In the meantime, siblings Ian McTavish and Lindsay Hernandez owned a casting foundry in California, which for twenty years produced an array of items from hip implants to airplane parts. “We eventually got into art as a favor to a local artist who wanted someone to pour his work in bronze,” says Ian. Ian began producing Tim’s frogs, and in 2000, bought Frogman’s business altogether. “The business side was getting to be too much for Tim,” explains Ian. “I handle that now so that he can continue to sculpt. Now our foundry is producing exclusively frogs.” Lindsay says the arrangement has been positive for everyone. “The change has allowed Tim to be a lot more creative,” says Lindsay. “He’s enjoying his life more, is able to travel. We’re all doing what we do best,” she says.
While the frog manufacturing remains at the foundry in California, Ian and Lindsay run the distribution, marketing, sales and promotion from their home offices in Park City. Ian, now Frogman Inc.’s owner, moved to Park City 11 years ago, and Lindsay, company president, moved here in 2002.
“We weren’t happy with the schools or the price of housing in California,” Lindsay explains. “I made an off-hand remark to Ian that we were thinking of moving and he sent me a plane ticket. I bought a house here without even telling my husband first! We moved in just after the Olympics,” she says.
Park City-based Frogman Inc. now ships Tim’s limited-edition frogs to more than 100 galleries in the United States, Europe and the Virgin Islands. To keep things fresh, Tim creates 12 new frog designs each year.
So how do Ian and Lindsay answer the question, “What do you do for a living?”
“Trying to explain that you sell frogs can be difficult,” laughs Lindsay. “But we’re really fortunate to have an amazing product that’s top of the wheel. There’s a huge energy with these frogs. People are struck by them,” she says.
Another part of the frogs’ appeal is that they’re often the more affordable pieces in a gallery. (Frog prices run from about $400 to $1,200). “They stand alone as pieces of art, but they’re also funny and whimsical—you can’t just have one,” Lindsay says. (In an extreme case, one client purchased 100 frogs last year as Christmas gifts!)
Ian says his business life is much more rewarding these days. “After making machine parts for so long, it’s nice to make something that people like. People really enjoy these sculptures,” he says. “They have funny names, beautiful colors—there’s nothing controversial about them. Everyone reacts to them. No one can walk by a gallery with these frogs in the window without stopping to look at them,” he says.
Ian says he enjoys running an international business from Park City. “It’s amazing how the world has changed, that you can run a business from anywhere, as if it’s around the corner. Taking advantage of new technology allows us to be instantaneous with ordering and inventory, for instance. And it’s more accurate than me yell-ing down the hall.”
“And we get to live where and how we want to and provide a great life for our children in Park City,” says Lindsay, a mother of three. “That’s the most important thing.”
Ian’s two children are now avid skiers. He says Park City is a great place to live. “It’s an absolute dream to be in the snow. And in such a small town, there’s a higher consciousness, where family values are important. A town like this fills up with people who are creative enough to find a way to live here. I like that.”
Since there are apparently many “wannafrogs” out there, Frogman’s work is copyrighted and typically sold at only one gallery in any town. “All of our galleries have exclusivity,” says Ian. “Our quality separates us from the copies.” (Hint to buyers: each of Tim’s frogs has “Frogman” embedded in the sculpture.)
Park City’s exclusive carrier of Frogman’s creations is Wilshire Gallery. Owner Dan Simons says his clients are fascinated with the frogs. “You buy art because of the way it makes you feel,” he says. “Tim’s work makes you smile. It makes you feel like a kid catching a frog in a pond. It makes you feel good.” People who buy Tim’s work want unique things,” Dan says. “Collectors are anyone. Kids love them, but most adults buy them for themselves. They just take one look at these frogs and fall in love.” Dan added that, “Tim reinvents himself all the time. The new designs each year are what keep people coming back.”
Kristen Gould Case can personally attest to the allure of the frogs. Her own Frogman piece, “Dart,” sat on her desk and kept her company while she wrote this article.
The Frogman Cometh
Check out Frogman’s works anytime at Wilshire Gallery (625 Main Street, Park City), or meet the artist himself at the gallery during the Park City Arts Festival, August 6 and 7, 2005. Call the gallery for details at 647.2901.
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