DAY 115

PORTRAITS

Environmental

ELIZABETH PEYTON, PAINTER

Elizabeth Peyton’s studio was small at the time, and so were her paintings, so when I showed up to make an environmental artist’s studio portrait for a magazine, I was not sure I had enough space to do it.

In the end, her inspiration wall above her desk proved an intriguing environmental backdrop—the orange fluorescent masking tape she had used to stick pictures up jumped out and caught your eye. This image spoke most to me about her and her paintings, the quiet observation of a moment or a person, and a keen eye for detail.

Since this image was made, she has become a very successful painter, and I am glad that I got the chance to meet her and make her portrait. —SA