Current issue now on sale!

The Lost & Found issue of Helicon is now on sale!

32 pages glossy pages filled with art, poetry, photography, short stories and features - compiled by students from Bristol University. We only have 200 of these limited edition copies so make sure to get your hands on one!

Where can I pick up a copy?

This Friday 31st January, between 11am and 3pm we will be in the foyer of the Refectory on Woodland Road selling copies.

How much does it cost?

If you're a member of Helicon, it's free! The price for non-members is £1, but by signing up to be a member for just £3 you receive the following benefits:

• Free or discounted entry to all Helicon events and workshops - this term we have crafty workshops, creative writing workshops and film trips lined up

• Opportunity to sign up for the Helicon Book Club - announced February

• Free copies of this and future issues this year

• Sign up on Friday, and you will also be entered into our competition to win Boston Tea Party vouchers!

How do you sign up to be a member?

You can sign up for membership this Friday at the Refectory. If you are already a member, come along to pick up your free copy of the magazine then too. Some of us from the Helicon team will be there for a chat if you'd like to find out how you can contribute content to the blog and the next issue!

A big thank you to everyone who contributed to the Lost & Found issue - with your help, we really enjoyed putting the magazine together and we are looking forward to another term with lots more creative events for you.

Katharina Nyilas - Into the Forest Exhibition

I first came across Katharina Nyilas' illustrations at an exhibition at The Print Shop in Quakers Friars. I loved her work immediately- such delicate little lines and exquisite details. Her work is usually inspired by environmental concerns, which is why her upcoming exhibition 'Into the Forest' and focuses on the preservation of the ancient forests in the UK. You can look at her website here - I think my favourite is the pattern made with the colourful krill. After graduating from the University of Westminster with a degree in Illustration, Katharina now has a studio space at Hamilton House in Stokes Croft.

I'm now helping Katharina out with the marketing side of the exhibition, which means learning lots about different social medias and contacting a lot of people - do check out our blog, twitter and facebook pages to get the latest news and events. The exhibition begins with an opening on the 6th February from 6-9pm at Hamilton House, with complimentary cider provided by Severn Cider who are also supporting the welfare of our precious ecosystem. I think it'll be a really fun evening, some hot, spicy cider and some beautiful art - then maybe head to the Canteen next door afterwards? 

Not only is there the exhibition from the 7th-13th, but Katharina has also organised a number of wildlife themed workshops run with other Bristol based artists. These range from etching, monoprinting to book binding, as well as Sarah Dennis' paper cutting workshop which we ran back in November! You can see the details and sign up on Katharina's blog by clicking on the 'workshops' tab.

Finally, there is also a competition on the go - whoever guesses the name of the animal and plant beginning with 'F' in the following image wins the limited edition print. 

- Sacha

Top Tips for Aspiring Illustrators

January can be a tough month to get your creativity in gear following the exhausting and dreaded exam season. Martha Ford, illustrator behind our upcoming issue's cover, shares with us her top tips that will hopefully inspire you to dust off your sketchbook, pick up a pencil and get drawing! You can have a look at more of Martha's work here.

 The 'Lost and Found' issue will be released in the last week of January - so keep posted via Facebook to find out how you can get your copy!

1.   Get your work out there. Have some sort of online presence: a blog, a website, a Facebook page. 

2. Go to exhibitions - especially private views, as those are really great places to meet people from the industry, see some amazing work and sometimes speak to the artist themselves.

3.  Get involved with any local creative groups or collectives. It can get a bit lonely sometimes and it is always good to use other creative people to bounce ideas off of. On top of that, quite a few opportunities come through people you know.

4. If you get really stuck (I get massive creative blocks sometimes) - take a break! I cannot stress that enough (although I should probably take my own advice more). Watch a film or documentary, go see friends, read a book, go to the library and browse, go for a big walk and take some photos; just do something that will give you some new material and inspiration.

5.   Even when you do start getting jobs etc, you can always improve and learn more. You should always be looking for new inspiration and creating and pushing your work in different directions. And there will always be people out there who are better than you. Enjoy their work, move on and improve your own.

6.  I would also suggest to anyone who would like to get into illustration to try and create one or two cohesive and personal styles. It makes it easier to market yourself and your work to agents, clients and shops. But never force a style, be sincere in your work otherwise you won’t ever be satisfied with it.

7. Keep going! Be persistent as it takes a while until you feel like you are moving anywhere. Practice, create, promote and stay positive.

All images courtesy of Martha Ford

Zoë