Jane Seymour to showcase art at New Jersey gallery

Acclaimed actress, artist and humanitarian Jane Seymour is coming to Hackensack’s (New Jersey, USA) Wentworth Gallery Friday Aug. 28 to share her passion for painting with fans and fellow art enthusiasts.

And while work requires her to spend most of her time in sunny southern California, television’s “Dr. Quinn — Medicine Woman” said she loves making frequent visits to the New York City area. She said she’s no stranger to the Big Apple’s North Jersey suburbs either.

In fact, Seymour suggested Bergen County residents are fortunate to have easy access to both the big city’s cultural wonders and the Garden State’s diverse offerings. She cited the Jersey Shore and its more tranquil outlying rural areas, all within relatively close reach, as examples.

“I have friends in New Jersey who I enjoy visiting and have taken the ferry across the Hudson River,” a relaxed Seymour said, during a phone interview with The Leader from her Malibu home.

“In fact, I think New Jersey is exquisite,” marveled Seymour, who previously saw an entirely different region of our state with a show at the Ocean Galleries, near Cape May, where she’ll return next month. “How wonderful to have it so close to New York City.”

The Emmy- and Golden Globe-award winner enthusiastically promoted her upcoming local exhibit, “Jane Seymour — A One- Woman Show.” It takes place Aug. 28, from 6 to 9 p.m., in the gallery’s showroom at The Shops at Riverside, 171 Riverside Square, Hackensack.

A second presentation is scheduled Aug. 29 at Wentworth’s Short Hills showroom, in The Mall at Short Hills, 1200 Morris Turnpike, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information on either show, call 1-800-732-6140 during business hours.

Attendees will get to visit with Seymour and view her original oils, acrylic and watercolor paintings, as well as limited-edition artwork.

All will be available for purchase. Further, the actress noted she will happily sign items bought at the shows.

Seymour estimated 70 to 80 pieces will be offered for sale on site. Others can be viewed over the Internet; they will also be made available to buyers.

“If the gallery doesn’t have a piece, I’ll be able to find it,” assured Seymour, who constantly uses her creativity, at home and on the road, in finding scenes she can depict using a variety of coloring tools and formats.

“I will also happily discuss with anyone requests to take on private commission work,” she pointed out. “Recently, I accepted one commission to paint a portrait of myself as Dr. Quinn.”

Examples can be viewed at her Web site, www.janeseymour.com, by clicking on the “Art” tab to the left and then “Launch Video.”

A classically-trained ballet dancer, the British native gained major American film exposure as the James Bond girl, Solitaire, in the 1973 action classic, “Live and Let Die.” It was the first in the series starring Roger Moore.

Seymour later increased her American profile through portrayals in various television movies and miniseries. One of her most memorable was as Cathy/Kate in ABC’s 1981 adaptation of the John Steinbeck novel, “East of Eden.”

She has also appeared on Broadway.

Still quite active in front of the camera when not in front of her beloved palette and easel, Seymour is best remembered by loyal fans for her successful prime time run as Dr. Michaela Quinn, from 1993 to 1998.

The CBS series revolved around the daily work of an 1860s-era Colorado Springs doctor. In the drama, which later spawned two made-for-TV movies, “Dr. Mike” cares for three children left orphaned when their mother was killed by a rattlesnake. The complete series is available on DVD.

“I never fully realized the show’s impact until after the series ended,” Seymour admitted. “Looking back, I’m proud of what we accomplished.”

This year, the former “Dancing With The Stars” contestant is busier than ever, playing character parts in three theatrical feature film comedies due out between now and Christmas: “The Assistants,” “Wake” and “Freeloaders.”

Seymour, 58, first studied art as a young woman in England during an “A-level” academic program (the British equivalent of a first year in college in the United States).

She feels her decision to actively take up painting and sculpting professionally, during a time of “great personal challenge,” produced good karma that led to better days ahead.

She recalled being in the depths of despair in 1991, only two years before landing “Dr. Quinn.” That’s when she met artist Tom Melko, during a charitable event for child abuse victims.

Seymour credits Melko’s encouragement to channel her energies and emotions through painting with turning her fortunes around. This, while involved in “a messy divorce” leaving her “beyond bankrupt and in danger of becoming homeless.”

“I invited him to my home, where he saw two finger paintings I’d done hanging on a wall,” she remembered. “He said, ‘You are an artist.’ ”

“He told me what I needed to hear, and in just two days, changed my life,” Seymour vividly recalled. “With all the pain I had gone through, I suddenly had a Zen-like awakening and ambitiously pursued painting to the point where it became a positive addiction that I couldn’t stop.

“Being artistic, and pursuing the fine arts, can really turn your life around. It’s like meditation.”

Ever since, Seymour said she has had the good fortune of “working with and learning from an elite group of artists located all over the world.” She also annually maintains a rigorous schedule of art shows held in galleries throughout the United States.

Additionally, the actress served as official artist for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics

Seymour pursues her art for purposes of charity and income.

She’ll also paint while traveling, working on the set in Hollywood or when filming on location (as she did frequently during “Dr. Quinn”).

Her home includes an art studio. She noted it is loaded with all the creative tools required in painting portraits, floral scenes and locales recalled from her frequent travel.

“When I’m on the road, I’ll take my watercolors and pen and ink with me because they are relatively easy to carry,” said Seymour, noting that paintings using acrylic and oil formats are better suited to the home studio. “A good camera is also essential. I’ll take photos, which I’ll use in re-creating various scenes. I’m always looking for ideas.”

“Closer to home, I enjoy painting pictures of people simply enjoying themselves on the beach,” she explained. “Acting and painting are both creative forms of expression. The great thing about painting is I can do it when I want to, whereas to act, somebody has to give you the job.”

Seymour is married to director James Keach and is the mother of six children from different marriages, including twins with Keach. Her many charitable pursuits include addressing the plight of abused and seriously ill children and delivering potable water supplies to the underdeveloped world.

Would she ever consider reviving “Dr. Quinn” in another TV movie with the right script? Seymour said “yes.”

It’s just that the answer is not so simple.

“You never know,” she said. “I have all of Dr. Quinn’s costumes packed in a closet right here at home. The problem is, while the show is loved and shown in reruns all over the world, CBS owns the rights and never really cared for the program — even while it was a big success on their own network.”

Based on her prior track record of success, after all the chips were seemingly down, don’t count Seymour out.

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