Peacock Books & Wildlife Art News

From 2005 to 2020, Lisa Loucks-Christenson dedicated a substantial amount of time to her bald eagle documentary. To document her research on Minnesota's bald eagles, she wrote a book for every year. These books have been well-received in market testing, but the author is waiting to fully publish them until all the episodes of her story are ready for launch. The total number of episodes exceeds 3500.

Her story follows a pair of eagles in the wild, raising their first eaglet in 2005 to their expanding family each year, up through their last eaglets, and the last books are her reflections and conclusion of this project, under her Struggling For Existence: What Nature Shared and her Ten Feet Under The Canary Grass, an autobiographical journey into how her projects changed her faith. Lisa covered multiple eagle nests on her outdoor beat, covering 13-miles, ending at the very start of the old wild, wild west—on the shores of the west side of the Mississippi. Not only was this location picturesque, but it also served as the exact backdrop for her award-winning Donnie Destin™ western series. Her first book, Worm Moon, received a book cover award for her illustration, sparking the interest of her western-loving customers.

Lisa’s Bald Eagle Documentary is a story of faith, resilience, a message of hope as Lisa shares the lives of eagles from not only their nesting area, but on foot as they fledged, roosted on the river, their encounters with other humans and wildlife—all the way to the end.

In this long-running documentary that has surpassed 14 years, this artist, writer, and photographer, who has a strong affinity for nature, found herself unexpectedly faced with a second assignment. Lisa's initial project, driven by her love for nature, gradually evolved into a quest to uncover the truth behind the plight of wildlife. She tirelessly documented and probed into illegal activities such as trapping, dumping, poaching, and other wildlife crimes. She diligently reported these incidents to the relevant authorities and maintained connections with the federal government. Lisa's research on the Whitewater Valley was thorough and encompassed various subjects such as habitats, weather, seasons, fungi, flowers, wetlands, sloughs, oxbows, and rivers. Minnesota Sketchbook: Whitewater (2025), her forthcoming publication, highlights her artistic talent through a blend of art, comics, photographs, and field notes capturing her outdoor explorations.

Lisa's exhibit, Winter Bugs!, and her best-selling book were both featured at the National Eagle Center. Her bald eagle documentary, titled Lisa's Bald Eagle Documentary, received coverage on regional television and outdoor radio news.

Struggling for Existence: What Nature Shared, Lisa's long-term project, is nearing its completion. Exploring Lisa's two-decade study, this book reveals her profound understanding of the true meaning of "survival" as shared by nature.

Make sure to regularly check the website for upcoming news, exhibits, films, and animations by Lisa Loucks-Christenson. All of her photographs, artwork, greeting cards, and books have consistently sold out. Therefore, if you're interested, please consider pre-ordering any items that catch your eye. You are not obligated to buy once you place an order. Reach out to the store by calling (888) 983-3085 and inform them of your order preferences. Some books may have a limited quantity allowed. Peacock Books & Wildlife Art is the exclusive retailer of Lisa's physical books, art, cards, and clothing, all of which are showcased in her gallery.

Sadly, Lisa is currently withholding the release of any ebooks for these titles as her work has been consistently and brazenly stolen.

If she makes the choice to convert her books into ebooks, she’ll offer them for sale on Amazon.

 Https://PeacockBooksWildlifeArt.com 

Lisa Loucks-Christenson's Minnesota Fungi, Volume One (2023) and Minnesota Fungi: Blue Lichens, Volume 2 (2024) 

 FUNGUARY ART CHALLENGE SKETCHBOOKS

By Lisa Loucks-Christenson

One of the most fascinating aspects of being in nature is the chance to stumble upon rare species, making it an incredibly rewarding experience to spend time outdoors. Throughout my experiences, I have had the opportunity to witness and capture photographs of numerous instances of them. Whitewater offered me an unforgettable experience as I crossed paths with various wildlife species. The presence of cougars, who seemed to seek me out rather than the other way around, left a lasting impression. Additionally, I had the privilege of observing a magnificent black bear, a venomous massasauga rattlesnake, and the enchanting Karner Blue butterfly. Furthermore, the landscape showcased an abundance of beauty, with colorful Blue Bonnets and a stunning variety of trout lilies, ranging from petite blossoms to impressive Jack-in-the-pulpits. As I made my way through the canary grass, I felt like I was wading through a forest of giants.

A year ago, I decided to challenge myself creatively by participating in "Funguary," a winter art challenge focused on capturing the beauty of fungi. The finished book became a best-seller, and I've revisited the illustrations several times this past year, each time appreciating their intricate details.

Once again, I decided to take on the art challenge this year. In order to complete the second volume, I had to capture countless shots of lichen, molds, mushrooms, and fungi. I created hundreds of images to use for my reference photos. The 4x4 inch book I chose doesn't provide enough space for me to comfortably lay down my colored pencils, unlike other paper choices.

Instead of fixating on the names of species, my goal this year is to immerse myself in the sights and sounds of the environment. I'm considering adding an index in a future revision, just to help readers find what they need more easily. This volume is about creating fungi art. My drawing style for this year is a folk art style, achieved by layering different shades of pencils to create a crayon-like effect when blended. This work doesn't quite meet my expectations, but I can take comfort in knowing that in just fourteen days, I can close the book on it and never have to use that paper again.

The blue lichens caught my attention, prompting me to delve deeper into their appearance through investigation and drawing. They are reminiscent of the mythical "red fern," a spectacle I had always dreamed of witnessing, and now I finally have. From delicate baby blue to vibrant aqua and mesmerizing turquoise, the "hard-to-find" species presents a breathtaking array of colors.

It's a stroke of luck that it's leap year, adding to the list of rare events. The prevailing theme this year is all about embracing the extraordinary, venturing into the uncommon, and surpassing the expectations of a typical February. The title of my book, Minnesota Fungi: Blue Lichens, reflects the specific focus on these captivating organisms found in the state. It possesses a rareness that is hard to find elsewhere. It stands out from the rest. It's a joy to have the chance to create something special that happens only every four years: I'll complete an extra drawing, publish the ebook version on Amazon, and showcase the art and merchandise at the Peacock Book & Wildlife Art bookstore. 

See you on the next adventure.

Lisa