After receiving a degree in business with a minor in psychology and following a career at Honeywell, Sue Dellner joined the Sun City Clay Club two years ago and “just fell in love with working with clay.”

While looking for inspiration for her clay works, Dellner, who also owns the Clear Creek Vineyard and Winery in Camp Verde, came across Talavera pottery. She was fascinated with the design elements, colors and shapes of the Talavera painting style and dug in to learn more. 

According to Talavera.com, Talavera pottery originated in Spain in the city of Talavera de la Reina, and has been around since the sixteenth century.  When the Spanish arrived in Mexico and began building churches, monasteries and convents, craftsmen from the city of Talavera de la Reina were commissioned to come to the New World. They produced elegant tiles for these buildings and taught the indigenous artisans their techniques. There became a blend old and new techniques, and Puebla, Mexico became home to this world-renowned art form.

Official Mexican Talavera is only produced in Puebla and in certain workshops. These workshops must follow a complex and strict technical fabrication process dating back to the sixteenth century and use only clay from a few approved clay sites in the Puebla area. In addition, all genuine Talavera pottery will be stamped by the workshop, signed by the artist and have a holographic mark denoting proof of authenticity. 

Vibrant colors and intricate details are trademarks of Talavera pottery. There are six traditional colors used with cobalt blue being the most favored. During the early history of Talavera, the mineral pigments needed to produce the color blue were very expensive and this color was reserved for only the highest quality ceramics. The other five colors include green, black, yellow, mauve and orange. There are traditional design elements to Talavera pottery as well. Often there are floral and geometric patterns, crosshatches with dots and “plumados” or swirls, all of which are hand-painted taking hours of dedicated artistic skill.

One of factors that fascinates Dellner with Talavera pottery is no two works are ever exactly alike. She sees the potential of using the different colors and shapes to create a unique pottery piece. Dellner teaches classes on Talavera style design to the Sun City Clay Club membership. She provides a brief history, explains authentic Talavera and gives her students a chance to explore and discover Talavera style painting while walking them through painting a piece of their own. Her classes are popular among the club members and for Dellner she says “getting to do design and teaching are total bliss.” 

The Sun City Clay Club will be raffling a Talavera style totem and have Talavera style pottery for sale at its 2024 spring pottery sale 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, March 15, and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at the Lakeview Recreation Center, 10626 W. Thunderbird Blvd.