Welcome
Frank Strazza to Australia
Marquetry artist and master craftsman Frank Strazza is headed down under in April 2027 to lead two Five Day Masterclasses.
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Five Day Tradtional Marquetry Masterclass
Monday April 5 to Friday April 9, 2027 in Melbourne
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Five Day Foundations of Hand Tools Masterclass
Monday April 12 to Friday April 16, 2027 in Melbourne
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These two exclusive workshops are limited to 10 participants only guaranteeing that you will enjoy the best experience possible. Both workshops will be held in Melbourne at the Coburg Studios, all materials are provided and lunch everyday.
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These Frank Strazza masterclasses are ideal for woodworkers seeking to grow their skills learning from a respected international craftsperson. Read on to learn more about this amazing opportunity brought to you by WOOD DUST & Craft Media Australia.
Five Day Traditional Marquetry Masterclass
with Frank Strazza
Painting with Wood: Traditional Marquetry & Inlay
This five-day masterclass is an exploration of traditional marquetry and inlay techniques—often described as “painting with wood.” Working primarily with hand tools and thicker, shop-sawn veneers, students will learn methods that have been used by cabinetmakers and decorative artists for centuries.
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We will begin with the traditional Boulle method of marquetry, hand cutting layers of veneer with a fret saw. Participants will create English-style paterae based on historical examples while learning grain selection, accurate cutting, assembly, sand shading, and the traditional use of mastic for filling fine gaps.
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From there, we will move into double-bevel marquetry, using contrasting woods to create tight-fitting inlays. Students will use this technique to cut lettering and personalize a project while developing skills that can be applied to furniture, boxes, and decorative panels.
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The workshop will also introduce more advanced geometric marquetry, including Louis cubes and other repeating patterns. These techniques will be demonstrated in detail, with opportunities for students to explore them further as time and individual progress allow.
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We will also cover the process of inlaying marquetry into solid wood, incorporating decorative stringing, and creating pictorial marquetry using multiple naturally colored woods to develop depth, form, and contrast.
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Throughout the week, emphasis will remain on traditional hand methods, accuracy, craftsmanship, and an understanding of how these techniques were historically practiced. We will also cover scraper preparation and use, along with methods for leveling and finishing completed marquetry.
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By the end of the workshop, students will have a strong foundation in traditional marquetry and inlay, along with the knowledge and techniques needed to continue incorporating decorative work into their own furniture and woodworking projects.
Traditional Marquetry with Frank Strazza
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A five day hands-on exploration of traditional marquetry and inlay. Learn to “paint with wood” working primarily with hand tools and thicker, shop-sawn veneers led by international craftsman Frank Strazza. During this Masterclass Frank will teach you a series of historical techniques including:
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Boulle marquetry cut by hand with a fret saw
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English-style paterae based on historical examples
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Sand shading and traditional mastic
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Double-bevel marquetry and hand-cut lettering
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Inlaying marquetry into solid wood
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Decorative stringing
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Pictorial marquetry using naturally colored woods
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Scraper preparation, leveling, and finishing
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Demonstrations of advanced geometric marquetry, including Louis cubes
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The emphasis throughout the workshop will be on traditional methods, precision, craftsmanship, and understanding how these techniques can be incorporated into fine furniture and decorative woodworking. You will receive a Workshop Manual setting out all masterclass details including a required tools list telling what tools you will need during the experience and your personal invitation to the 'Yarn' where Frank will be our feature guest. Book your bench space today!
Tickets on Sale
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Learn to paint with wood in this very special woodworking Masterclass...
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Five Day Traditional Marquetry Masterclass with Frank Strazza
​​Monday April 5 to Friday April 9, 2027
Being held at The Coburg Studios, 69 Charles Street Coburg 3058
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Five Day Foundations of Hand Tools Masterclass with Frank Strazza
This intensive five-day masterclass is designed to build a strong foundation in traditional hand-tool woodworking. Rather than focusing on the completion of a single project, the emphasis throughout the week will be on developing the fundamental skills, techniques, and understanding that can be applied to virtually any woodworking project.
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We will begin with sharpening and the proper setup and use of essential hand tools, including chisels, handsaws, hand planes, and scrapers. Students will work through a carefully structured series of exercises designed to develop accuracy, control, and confidence with each tool.
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Chisel work will include fundamental paring techniques and the cutting of accurate dados. From there, we will move into handsaw techniques and exercises that develop the ability to saw accurately to a line. These skills will then be applied to several forms of traditional joinery, including through dovetails, half-blind dovetails, tapered sliding dovetails, and mortise-and-tenon joints.
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A portion of the class will be devoted to the hand plane. Students will learn how to properly set up and tune a plane, how to use it effectively, and how to read the surface of the timber while working. Beginning with a rough piece of timber, we will go through the traditional process of four-squaring—establishing a true face, edge, width, and thickness entirely with hand tools.
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Throughout the five days, the focus will be on understanding not only how these techniques are performed, but why they work. Students will leave the workshop with a practical system for sharpening, sawing, planing, chiseling, and cutting joinery, along with a much stronger foundation for pursuing fine woodworking with hand tools.
Foundations of Hand Tool Woodworking
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Build the fundamental hand skills that lie at the heart of fine furniture making! During this intensive five-day Masterclass, Frank Strazza will help you develop practical skills with traditional hand tools while learning the methods, techniques, and joinery used in fine woodworking.​​ Frank will teach you a series of historical techniques including:​
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Sharpening chisels and plane irons
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Proper use of chisels, handsaws, hand planes, and scrapers
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Chisel paring techniques
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Cutting accurate dados
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Sawing accurately to a line
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Through dovetails
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Half-blind dovetails
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Tapered sliding dovetails
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Mortise-and-tenon joinery
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Setting up and tuning a hand plane
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Proper hand-plane techniques
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Four-squaring rough timber entirely by hand
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Establishing flat, square, and parallel surfaces
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The emphasis throughout the week is on developing accuracy, control, and a sound understanding of traditional hand-tool methods—skills that can be carried directly into future furniture-making projects. Don't miss the opportunity to learn directly from a recognized Master, book your benchspace today!
Tickets on Sale
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Travel to the centre of the hand tool Universe...
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Five Day Foundations of Hand Tools Masterclass with Frank Strazza
​​Monday April 12 to Friday April 16, 2027
Being held at The Coburg Studios, 69 Charles Street Coburg 3058
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Who is Frank Strazza..?
Frank Strazza is a master furniture maker and instructor with more than 30 years of experience in traditional hand-tool woodworking. He began woodworking at age 11 and went on to complete a formal apprenticeship and journeymanship. His training was further shaped by seven years of studying with renowned craftsman Paul Sellers, whose influence continues to inform Frank’s approach to hand tools, craftsmanship, and teaching.
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Frank’s furniture has received numerous awards at exhibitions throughout the United States and is represented in the permanent collection of the White House in Washington, D.C. He has taught at leading woodworking schools and institutions across the country, including Colonial Williamsburg, the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Marc Adams School of Woodworking, the Florida School of Woodworking, the Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking, and the Wendell Castle School. He has also taught internationally, including courses in London and Brazil.
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Frank specializes in traditional hand-tool techniques, fine joinery, furniture making, inlay, and marquetry. His interest in historic decorative techniques has led him to Italy on multiple occasions, where he has studied historic marquetry firsthand and deepened his understanding of its traditional methods, materials, and practices.
At the heart of Frank’s work is a commitment to preserving traditional hand-tool craftsmanship and passing these skills on to future generations of furniture makers.
Outside the workshop, Frank enjoys cycling, playing the cello and mandolin, and dancing the Lindy Hop.
Frank Strazza's Australian Tour
Join Frank on his 2027 Australian tour and take your woodworking to a new level. ​Limited tickets are now on sale for both the Marquetry and Hand Tools Masterclasses. Don't miss the opportunity to learn directly from an internationally respected craftsperson. Book your bench space today!
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