Brighton by day, Hastings by night

Last Saturday, Mike and I went to Brighton to deliver my work to Kellie Miller Arts gallery. The roads were clear luckily. It took us only 90 minutes to get to the city centre of Brighton. But from there our Satnav kept leading us to all roads with no entry! A big problem. As lots of readers live overseas, let me explain. Brighton is a medium sized resort city at the sea. The central area has a maze like foot paths and narrow roads. It is a nightmare to drive in there.  And parking is very expensive for the size of the city. £4 per hour in the city centre during the weekend.

So we were so close to the gallery, about 5 minutes walk, but took longer than 30 minutes to get there by car! Mike was still recovering from the flu, and I was a bit under the weather, so when we got there, we were exhausted.

Kellie Miller Arts have Angels, Hope and Paper Crown.

Angels with wings

hope

Paper Crown didn't have a chance to have proper photos taken! But he looks as regale as ever in the box!  

Paper crown

Kellie Miller Arts is having their first anniversary on Market Street. Kellie herself is ceramic artist. Her gallery has very interesting collection of ceramic arts. While we were there, lots of people popped in.

My work will be there until the end of the year. The gallery is also taking a part in the Christmas Artists Open Houses starting from the 29th and continuing until the 14th December. If you are going to be in Brighton over the coming weeks, do pop in! You won't be disappointed!

Lovely ceramic gallery

If you come to Brighton, you have to have cakes at the Julien Plumart boutique! Despite the difficulties, we were determined to park the car somewhere a bit cheaper. A mistake! We were stuck in congestion. The view from the car wasn't spectacular, neither.

Of course, only our was was congested! 

In the end, we took longer than 30 minutes to park the car ( about 7 minutes on foot!) and finally reached the gourmet destination!

We had delicious lunch; mine, smoke salmon, Mile's, ham. Then we had cakes with Sri Lankan lemon grass tea! Bavarois of pistachio, (would you believe it?) Strawberry coulis and raspberry macaroon for the madame, and a hazel praline cake for the monsieur.

Of course, we bought a couple for the next day!


After this, we headed for Hastings. We knew that it would be too late for Jerwood, but I had heard there is a ceramic gallery. Satnav really doesn't work in Brighton! Now we were lead to a closed road. Somehow we got out, and then in congestion! It was supposed to be about one hour drive, but it took us nearly 90 minutes, by the time we arrived at Hastings, it was dark! The famous cliff was lit up.

Old town looks more attractive in the dark in some ways.

We found a gallery and then headed for coffee and another cake! We were again very tired! On the way back to a parking, we found this a half Totoro and a half owl! 

We drove the land without street lights to go back to Canterbury. We were near Romney marsh and its landscape reminds me of the place Marsh-wiggles live!

We also had to climb up the hill and come down in the dark with a hairpin curve at the bottom. A couple of street lights would be nice!

We were exhausted when we got home and had an early night.

And here is the image for you who wondered what kind of cake we bought! :D Mine had Marsala wine in it! Heavenly! They will never disappoint me! ( yes, you guessed right. Mike always chooses rectangular ones! )

Zorian Artworks, Brighton, has my works now!

Can you remember when you didn't have broadband? We lost connection for one day sandwiched by two days with non-existing uploading. It was like the Middle ages. I couldn't attach a Word file to my email, or the tiniest image for my twitter. Thankfully yesterday morning, it came back. I have uploaded lots of images and files quickly, just in case it goes down again!

Last Saturday Mike and I went to Brighton to drop off my works at Zorian Artworks. We met Zorian at the art fair last month, and he offered me to have my works in his studio/gallery. He is polite, very friendly and very tall, about 2m! I am tiny even at Japanese standard. From me, he looks very far away! :D His gallery is located in front of the beach, 5 minutes walk from the Pier. He is a painter himself, and his marine themed works are no doubt inspired by the view from his place.

I have always wanted to have my work on show in Brighton. Some of my works are either too edgy or funky to be shown with my other works. I have sold some of them on Etsy and at the Sidney Cooper gallery, but I have thought they would fit better in Brighton, the city of of artists, or the edgy part of London.

We left lots of works of all sizes. Among them, this cat is available to the public for the first time. The larger version was in the MA show last autumn. The middle part was reduction fired in a gas kiln. Other parts were oxidation fired in an electric kiln. I assembled them after firing.

Cat - available from Zorian Artworks

A chameleon also went to Brighton.

Available from Zorian Artworks

 
I also left a medium size, 'The answer was in the box'.  It is larger, about 15cm high and 15cm wide, than the one on Etsy. I tend to sell smaller works, which are easier to ship, on Etsy, as lots of customers are overseas.

Forest Boy is also there.

Just before we were leaving, a lady was interested in my masks. I started talking to her about them, but then I saw Zorian smiling, so we left.

There are more and also colourful Zorian's works as well as other ceramic works. If you are in Brighton, please check out Zorian Artworks at 246 Kings Road Arches, Brighton, right at the seafront.