Gigantic leaves of the gunnera plant flourish above a hosts of undesirable invasive and toxic species proliferating in the muck of the understory.

While the label weed has negative implications it may simply refer to a wild plant growing in the wrong place some of which become desirable when intentionally cultivated. Many weeds are in fact beneficial, having nutritional and medicinal properties or proving crucial to the survival of insects and flora in a specific habitat. Thistles, a large family of plants with many desirous as well as noxious characteristics, were the incentive for this painting.

As in the study of morphology, similarities and differences between tree and aquatic shapes, color and texture are explored here. Simple elaborations are coupled to make comparisons.

Morphology is the biological study of the forms and structural relationships of living organisms. Explored here are the similarities and differences between parts of a canna plant and milkweed. Dualities are presented as symmetry through repetition or shadow.

A non-native seedpod painted in watercolor sits within layered photographs of the environment, which it has invaded and is destroying.

A non-native seedpod painted in watercolor sits within a photograph of an environment to which it has become acclimated.

A non-native seedpod painted in watercolor sits within a photograph of an environment to which it has become acclimated and enhances.

Bees, attracted by lush environments, are declining due to multiple risks causing die-off of the hives worker bees, including are increasing uses of pesticides, viruses, and loss of habitats. Significant economic losses may result because bees depended on to pollinate agricultural crops.

The stalks and blossoming pods of Strelizia reganie, commonly known as Bird of Paradise,
were painted in watercolor and a photo of the leaves and ground was printed onto the painting. Often ignored is the plant’s understory in which the crawling creatures and decay exist, essential to the organisms well being. These are depicted on the framing Plexiglas.

Many plants are night bloomers and scented only at night. Therefore, species of insects adapting their habits are nocturnal feeders and pollinators. They and their fight lines have been printed onto the framing Plexiglas.

The painted orchids were surrounded with a night photo of its natural environment. Moths and their fight line have been printed onto the framing Plexiglas.

Painted stalks, buds and blossoms of a palm tree are layered with a digital photo of palm fronds viewed from above. Palms are simultaneously in the process of reproducing and dying.

The effects of invasive and endangered species on human life and the consequences to the earth’s habitat underlie all of Neill’s images. The artist credits her commitment to environmental conservation to early studies of biology at Skidmore College. It was a natural transition from the examination of biological processes in a lab to metaphorically visualizing those processes as imagery in paintings and prints.

Flower: Well-meaning human decisions are often credited with introducing invasive species. Pictured are species that were imported to tropical islands to solve agricultural problems but ran amuck because their habits were imperfectly understood: yellow jackets to rid hibiscus flowers of white mites that they don’t eat; mongoose that were brought into cane fields to attack rats, which are nocturnal while mongoose are diurnal.

Scientists deduce a crippling shell disease is caused by the breakdown of hard plastics in seawater, leaving crustaceans with vulnerable soft shells and affecting the livelihood of fisherman.

Leaf: There is evidence that leafy plants ameliorate the effects of climate change through their dispersal of moisture into the air. It’s theorized that an increase in trees and broad leafed plants could create cloud layers, which would shield the earth from harmful sunrays

Pod: Invasive Asian Water Chestnuts (inedible), painted in watercolor, are precariously stacked against a digitally printed ground of harmful giant hogweed and caterpillar tents. All are surrounded by drawings of choking Golden Dodder.

A dissected view of a magnolia blossom was painted in watercolor against a detail of plant cell structures. The entire cell structure was printed on the interior surface of the Plexiglas Echoing the form of the dissected blossom. The two panels are attached to the wall with stainless standoff mounts. I researched the cell forms in a plant anatomy book.

This orchid dispenses a scent at night, which attracts moths that will fertilize the blooms. The painted orchids were surrounded with a night photo of its natural environment. Moths and their fight line have been printed onto the framing Plexiglas. It is a tribute to Oakes Ames, an early 20c botanist specializing in orchids and his wife, Blanche Ames, a botanical artist.