Christine Neill has made the natural world the subject of her work for many years. After collecting plants, rocks, or other specimens, Neill undertakes an intensive period of close looking and research before embarking on the creation of her large-scale watercolors. In Balance of Consequence, Neil uses the white of the paper to draw attention to the silhouettes of individual rocks, addressing a more contemplative notion of stability. The precarious balance of her geological subjects also hints at the control and technical dexterity required by the watercolor medium. Born in Needham, Massachusetts, Neill moved to Baltimore in 1969 to study under Grace Hartigan at the Maryland Institute College of Art, where she earned her MFA in 1971. She has taught at the Maryland Institute since 1981.