Preparations of a correspondent…

Me and Amsterdam 2019 correspondent Gwen

by Roger Klaassen

Still a little more than a month to go till the International Urban Sketchers Symposium in Poznań, but I am preparing for my job as International Sketch Correspondent.

I had a very enjoyable afternoon with Amsterdam 2019 correspondent Gwen Glotin. At the time, I was a member of the organization team and didn’t get out of the Zuiderkerk, the main venue. During the Symposium, I met Gwen a few times and of course I read her reports. You can imagine I was a bit jealous, locked in the Zuiderkerk as I was.

Gwen and I met on a very sunny day in Amsterdam. We know each other quite well, so we talked about things like health and sickness, our children, etc. etc. We almost forgot to talk about what it means to be correspondent.

Me, drawn by Gwen. I was drawing in a tiny sketchbook, while I almost always skecth on loose sheets. That is why I say in the balloon: ‘People will not believe this is me, because they never see me with such a small sketchbook’.

The most valuable tip Gwen could give me: take care you have enough sleep. As a correspondent, I will have to produce drawings and texts every day – at least for the daily report. Gwen told me to take notes during the day and to leave the ‘Drink & Draw’ early. Making the daily report is night work!

After my meeting with Gwen, I contacted Jeroen Janssen, correspondent in Buenos Aires last year. He also told me that there is not so much time for sleep – maybe not only for correspondents, I think. Just like Gwen, he felt the pressure of publication – being a bit anxious to make sketches that are worth publication.

Both Gwen and Jeroen have enjoyed their job as correspondent, confirming my belief that it is the best job of the Symposium. I am looking forward to it and will sleep later.

My sketch of Gwen. My portrait skills need some practicing.

Other preparations: I am looking for books that are set in Poznań, but can’t find many. I am reading ‘A chip shop in Poznań’ by Ben Aitkin, which is amusing, but in fact doesn’t teach me too much about Poznań. I am also curious to find artists that have been working in Poznań in the past. If you have any suggestions, please let me know (roger@rogerklaassen.nl).