Like many women of my generation, I somehow missed An Affair to Remember until Meg Ryan brought it to my attention.  It was beautiful, witty, romantic and sappy, just like a great chick flick is supposed to be.  And Deborah Kerr’s Terry McKay was completely captivating and one of the first iconic female characters I thought of when beginning the Feminine Wiles series.

found here 

With her warm auburn locks and creamy complexion, the film’s wardrobe designer Charles Le Maire wisely capitalized on her natural palette by using autumnal peaches and oranges in her costumes peppered throughout the movie.

Deborah Kerr as Terry McKay in An Affair to Remember, acrylic on canvas panel, 6×6

The character is smart and sassy, beautiful but down to earth and practical.  Characteristics perfectly portrayed with a warm, simmering palette.

I have no idea how many of these I’ll do, but am thinking of broadening soon into more contemporary film characters– maybe even by decade?  Um, hello, Molly Ringwald anyone? To see more paintings in the Feminine Wiles series, check the archives here.

Film image linked above, art by Lesley Frenz aka Artsy Forager.