iconTechnique: Bronze
Tim Cotterill, also nicknamed Frogman , was born in England in 1950
When he was young, his parents were great horticulturists and his family home was surrounded by flowers, vegetation and small ponds. Young Tim had fun observing all the creatures that coexisted in this environment, and in particular the frogs. He liked to note for each one their very diverse colors, their shapes and even their personality type. A few years later, he began working as an apprentice in a metal factory, and quickly became an expert in making metal sculptures. For 10 years, he created more than a thousand sculptures of birds and animals of all kinds, some of which were even auctioned at Sotheby's.
Following a series of trips to California, he decided to settle in Venice Beach, to be surrounded by beaches and palm trees, bathed in tireless sunshine, like a real little oasis. All this beauty will have given him renewed vitality and a renewed passion to continue his creative work. It was at this moment that he had the idea of using frogs as a subject for his sculptures with which he could convey his passion for these little quirky amphibians, while sharing his unique sense of humor with us.
What makes his sculptures attractive and endearing are the different themes and typically human characters that they embody, such as sportsmanship with his series on swimming and dancing or even sweet romance with his Romeo and Juliet series, Prince Charming and Valentin.
His sculptures are worked at high temperature to obtain a myriad of colors and finishes. A wide variety of chemicals, natural pigments and dyes are used to make the patinas that will give lifelike colors to frogs, large and small. His largest sculpture reaches 12 feet tall and weighs more than 400 pounds.
Exhibiting in 24 galleries in England and more than 80 galleries in North America, Tim Cotterill is currently the largest seller of small bronze sculptures in the world.
“Throughout the centuries and all around the globe, frogs have symbolized a multitude of things such as good fortune, royalty, fertility, energy, charm, magic potions, etc. These days, with the hectic lives we live, it sometimes becomes complicated and stressful. As you can see, my art is not! It is elegant and stylish, fun and unique, seeking to create pure fun! It makes people smile! The more we smile, laugh and feel happy, the better our health. I hope my art brings you joy and pleasure into your life. » Tim Cotterill, Frogman