Martha Iserman

Martha Iserman is a Scientific Illustrator & Fantastical Watercolour Artist

Martha is a watercolour artist and scientific illustrator from Minneapolis, Minnesota, who is currently living and working in the Dandenong Ranges.

Martha creates art as a way to interpret the underlying systems in history, language and nature. Finding motivation in fossil collections, mycology, folklore, natural history museums, terrariums, esoteric traditions, entomology and sea monsters. She loves incorporating complex overlapping stories and visuals in her work.

Martha Iserman Scientific Illustrator & Artist

Martha’s work has been shown in galleries in the USA and Australia, and her illustration work has been featured in numerous scientific publications, museums, journals, textbooks and educational websites. 

As well as her scientific illustrations Martha is known for creating worlds within worlds by depicting familiar organisms in unfamiliar ways, using very detailed pieces, colour, composition, and form to break out of traditional representational art tropes.

Martha illustrating in her home studio in the Dandenong Ranges

Martha Iserman went to Perpich Center for Arts Education, a public highschool that specialises in Fine Arts in Minnesota, before completing a Fine Arts degree majoring in Printmaking at the University of Minnesota. Martha then furthered her training by completing a Graduate Certificate in Science Illustration at California State University.

Martha believes in life long learning and has most recently undertaken a certificate in Teaching Nature Journaling. Martha loves imparting her love of art and nature to others.

Artwork 'Fungi Group' by Martha Iserman

Nature Journaling Workshop

Slow down, observe, and connect with nature through sketching, writing, and watercolour in this immersive full-day Nature Journaling Workshop at The Old Auction House, Kyneton. Led by scientific illustrator Martha Iserman, you’ll learn how to combine art and mindfulness as you capture plants, textures, and colours from the Kyneton Botanic Gardens.

Suitable for beginners to experienced artists, this relaxing creative workshop includes all materials and a take-home art kit (valued at $80). Limited to 10 participants — book now to reserve your spot!

A entry in a nature journal depicting a native bird and plants

All the Details:

$235 per person

$230 pp when you book two or more places

5 hour Workshop

10 Students per Class

Take Home Your Own $80 Art Kit

Martha's Nature Journal depicting different specimens of plants

In the morning session you will be introduced to the techniques and skills in the classroom and get to know your supplies. After a delicious lunch you will venture out into the local historic Kyneton Botanical Gardens to put your new skills into practice.

Each student will receive their own kit valued at over $80 to take home, it will include;
4 x Grey-lead Pencils
3 x Copic Markers
1 x A4 25% Cotton Watercolour Spiral Notepad
1 x Blue Col-Erase Pencil 
1 x Medium Waterbrush Pen
1 x 12 Travel Set Watercolour
1 x Eraser
1 x Sharpener
All supplied in a tote bag to take to the Botanic Gardens.

Nature Journaling can show both the location, species and flora of an area

Whether you're an artist, writer, or nature enthusiast, this workshop will inspire you to see the world through fresh eyes and create meaningful, personalised journals. Guided by professional science illustrator, Martha Iserman, you'll explore how to foster curiosity, sharpen your observation skills, and cultivate creativity and mindfulness.

Discover the art of nature journaling—a rewarding practice that blends observation, sketching, and personal reflection to capture the beauty and intricacies of the natural world. Learn to combine observation, sketching, and written notes to capture the beauty of the natural world. In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn techniques for creating engaging sketches, writing vivid descriptions, and recording sensory details that deepen your connection with nature.

A nature journal entry of leaves in different stages of life and from different plants found

**Please Note** As this workshop is both INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, you should check the weather for the workshop and pack/wear appropriate clothes. Eg. Jumper/Raincoat/Hat/Sunscreen. You should also ensure you are wearing suitable shoes. 

Please contact The Old Auction House if you have any Accessibility Requirements. The Walk to the Botanical Gardens is 650m, you are able to drive and park if required and there are some wheelchair accessible paths at the gardens to explore. Please contact us prior to the workshop to ensure it is easy on the day.

Learn Field Sketching Techniques in this Nature Journaling Workshop
Discover Creative Journaling Exercises in this Nature Journaling Workshop
Learn Observation and Annotation Skills in this Nature Journaling Workshop
Understand Journaling and Field Sketching Tools in this Nature Journaling Workshop

Those Details Again:

$235 per person

$230 pp when you book two or more places

5 hour Workshop

10 Students per Class

Take Home Your Own $80 Art Kit

Get out into nature and learn to record what you see in this Nature Journaling Workshop

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Every workshop I attend at The Old Auction House is wonderfully organised, heaps of fun and heaps of fun!”

- Tiffany McIntyre

Learn to draw what you see in this Nature Journaling Workshop

As Featured On

Today Show
Sunrise
What's Up Downunder
Daylesford Macedon Life Magazine
TimeOut Melbourne
1000+ Five Star Reviews for our workshops on Classbento
The Weekend Australian
Well Traveller Partner

Accessibility

Martha is able to adapt the workshop for most physical limitations, the workshop venue is wheelchair/4ww accessible, but please note that the afternoon session is at Kyneton Botanical Gardens and we suggest contacting us to ensure we have measures in place to make you day as enjoyable and smooth as possible. There is a large toilet but not a disability toilet on-site, there is a disability toilet at the Gardens. Please email to ensure adequate accessibility measures are in place to make your day as fun and stress free as possible if you have specific access requirements.

Requests for additional non-participating adults, carers/support workers, to attend workshops will be allowed dependent on space. Please contact venue prior to booking to confirm there is not already additional people assisting with other students in your preferred date.

Terms & Conditions

Students must be over the age of 16+ and accompanied by a paying adult if under 18. There are no refunds on the purchase of tickets. Students may request two date transfers to a available dates, if made more than 7 days prior to class.