Watercraft
Calgary artisans ‘pool’ their resources, returning to the well on design.
Awhimsical vision of deep-sea delights, this one-ofa-kind poolroom hosts artistry that drifts beyond borders to capture the imagination and bring it to life.
Inspired by their vacation home in Mexico, this couple wanted to reference the beauty and influences of their ocean-side retreat and bring it home to the shores of Chestermere. “We wanted something unique and met Trevor Duval after admiring his artistry at the old Bear’s Den restaurant,” recalls the homeowner, who was later referred to James Lutzko to bring Duval’s sculpture to colourfully vivid heights. “We gave them free reign. You don’t tell Michelangelo how to paint a ceiling—they took our vision and ran with it.”
An artist from an early age, Trevor Duval realized that sculpture was his calling after taking fine arts courses at Red Deer College. “There is no school that teaches the ‘old plaster’ trade in Alberta, so I got my start working with an experienced master, Peter Levijoki,” begins Duval.
Inspired by what he learned, Trevor worked hard to keep his subject matter unique, eventually branching out on his own. “It was difficult at first as a 20-21 years old to convince well-established clients that I could in fact enhance their homes and properties. And once the work got out, they did see this indeed was something you could not buy on a shelf.” A frequent talent showcased in several Best Home features over the years, Trevor Duval’s original and prolific works have graced many a home, nurturing hopeful visions into reality.
Also accomplished in metal sculptures and freestanding art pieces, Trevor’s main specialty is plaster. “With plaster you can create any texture, form, and style, providing that unique custom feature that can blur the boundaries between art and architecture,” explains Duval.
Starting with a few preliminary drawings, Trevor began his process of bringing this vision to life. “It was incredibly challenging for one person to take on a project of this scale—the scaffolding alone was a feat in itself,” muses Duval. Inspired by the client’s trust, he was dedicated to delivering more details than discussed, capturing a fun-filled and youth-oriented visual odyssey. “It’s like arriving at some aquatic paradise,” describes Duval, who built up the wall surfaces up to two feet in depth before plastering with fine details.
Admittedly more of a sculptor than a painter, Trevor involved a special artist and friend to assist in capturing just the right shading and colours for what he was trying to achieve. Desiring a very colourful and realistic waterproof finish, Trevor enlisted the only painter he felt was up the task, James Lutzco of Painters Edge Inc.
“His work is outstanding as both a fine artist and a trade painter and I owe this world of colour fully to his talent. We created something that I’m sure no other poolroom in Canada has,” states Trevor.
Intrigued by the detail and nature of the project, James Lutzko explains, “The homeowners wanted a certain brightness, rich colours, ocean blues and detail in the marine life so I used a blend of metallic and fluorescent paints for richness and vibrancy. It was nearly 6,000 square feet of area and took approximately three months,” recalls James who, since 1983, has been beautifying residential and commercial properties with paint, stain, faux-finishes, murals, and graphics. Able to realistically replicate marble, wood grains, and other natural finishes for renovation continuity, his fine art can also be discovered in local galleries.
Equal in quality of function, the 18 x 36foot custom L shaped pool hosts a state-ofthe-art flex panel system, Haywood Omni Logic automation with cell phone control for both pool and spa, and colour logic lighting. Also featuring premium durability, a Coverstar automatic walk-on cover shelters the pool and spa with optimum safety and convenience.
“The clients were thrilled and it really was a fun project for us all,” admits Duval with a grin.