Counsel Langley

This dot is the boss of that dot. This color is “on,” that one is “off.” Electricity flows through the black lines, the blue ones are paths to travel . . .

With acrylic, ink and immodest amounts of glitter I make paintings using two opposing approaches. One, loose painting techniques such as dripping, pours, splatters, which I use to create effective representations of natural elements—weather, water, clouds, smoke, flora, erosion, growth, galaxies . . . . The other approach, that of the tool user, with pen and ink and architects’ templates, drafting implements and compasses, I fastidiously draw controlled lines, concentric circles, grids and repetitive dots; these reflect structures and infrastructures that we build.

I am influenced by the look of outer space, computer chips, dramatic weather, electric circuits, decay, rock-n-roll glamour, plans and diagrams, b-rate sci-fi control panels, urban environments, fluid turbulence, engineering schematics and architectural drawings.

I work in order to think about why and where we live, what we build, how we feel, what we do, and what happens when these things intersect.

"Counsel creates precise architectonic designs of scribed lines and systemically arranged discs that might be of use as game boards, circuit diagrams, subway maps or any number of genres of codified information. When layered with organic bleeds and washes that ebb around the edges, these rational structures are a picture of intellect rising from the unconscious mind."

--Jake Seniuk, Director, Port Angeles Fine Arts Center

BIO

Counsel Langley's work has been exhibited in many regional and national venues including the Museum of Northwest Art, OGHE Ltd., and the Port Angeles Fine Art Center. Her work has been published in several select book projects and is held by Seattle City Light's Portable Works Collection. Langley holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, from Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston. She currently resides in her childhood home of Port Townsend with her husband and two daughters.