María Machado and the Art
of Varnishing a Handcrafted Violin:
Interview + Online Course
Varnishing is not just the final stage in building an instrument: it is an aesthetic statement, a sonic pursuit, and a tradition passed down from workshop to workshop. María Machado, an Argentine luthier trained at the Tucumán School of Luthiery and specialized in Baroque instruments at the Stradivari Institute in Cremona, shares her perspective in this interview conducted by Lucas Larrazábal for Luthier Magazine.
Learn from Her: Online Course on Handcrafted Varnishing
The result of years of work in her workshop, María has developed an online course where she teaches everything she knows about varnishing violins, violas, and cellos. This training is designed for both practicing luthiers and students or enthusiasts who want to learn from scratch.
👉 Visit the course landing page to learn all the details:
What Will You Learn?
- Alcohol- and Oil-Based Varnishing Techniques
- Surface Preparation
- Final Polishing
- Artisanal Varnish Cooking Methods
- Practical Tips from Real Workshop Experience
The classes are pre-recorded, and access is permanent. The course is hosted on the Hotmart platform and can be taken from any country.
This course is an invitation to experience varnishing not just as a technique, but as a language—a knowledge passed from luthier to luthier, and now you can learn it from a master passionate about her craft.
