It may come as news to some fans of television's Dr. Quinn, but actress Jane Seymour was really an artist first. She'll be in Naples this month for several days, and will make an appearance Feb. 5 at a reception for a show of her works at the new Galerie du Soleil. We chatted with her about her careers and her life.

Q. You studied dancing before you took up acting. Was art a part of your education, too?

A. Yes. I went to this wonderful school, the Art Education Trust in London. I learned all sorts of things there, including art and design. I actually got my A levels in art, but then I became a working ballerina.

Everything that I'm doing now with art started about 12 years ago. I had always drawn for myself, designed my own clothing and things like that, but at that time I went through an incredibly bad divorce and discovered that I was nearly bankrupt, too. I decided to give the last money I had to a charitable cause, and when Tom Mielko, who was organizing the charity auction, came to my house he spotted some of the finger paintings I'd done with my kids on the walls. He thought they were really good and offered to give me lessons for free. Painting transported me to a different world; I could lose myself in it.

Q. Was art a way out of your financial difficulties?

A. Oh, no. Basically my agent called all the networks and told them I'd do absolutely anything because I needed to work. And what “anything” was, was Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. I set up a little painting table on the set and between takes I'd paint. I gave a lot of paintings away to the crew and eventually they started wanting my pictures on T-shirts and other clothing. Then Discover Card asked me to design a private-issue card for them, which was launched at the Guggenheim and auctioned off for charity for $25,000.

Q. How does art fit into your schedule?

A. I always make time for the paintings, because they're what I love the most. If I'm working, traveling, I take my paints with me. I have a studio at home and do commissions, but also I paint just what I want to for myself sometimes. I wake up every day with ideas.

Q. And what about acting?

A. I'm still acting, but ever since reality TV took over they barely make any movies anymore. I love acting, and I miss it, but I'm very busy without it. I do have a project coming up soon for Court TV.

Q. Do you find some people are drawn to your art just because of your name?

A. Certainly some buyers are curious when they hear the name. But a number of people buy my work just because they like the art. When I showed at Art Expo in New York not long ago, my first buyer there [the former owner of Domino's Pizza, Tom Monaghan] didn't know or care who I was. He just cared about the paintings. And that made me feel great

© Gulfshore Life