Most of spring and summer term was focussed on painting from direct observation, both indoors and outdoors. We all benefitted from these experiences in terms of finding outdoors equipment and materials to suit us in terms of comfort and portability. We also benefitted from the need to edit what was in front of us, as our views were vastly larger than a selected photocopy view. My own preparation for teaching the holiday, was focussed on painting outdoors alone, so I could put myself in the shoes of my learners in having the time to focus all my attention on the job. My aim was to produce a series of simple to more complicated paintings, in order to meet the range of ability levels on the holiday, and also to demonstrate the difference of open air ( plein air ) paintings, in comparison to those completed back in the studio in a more detailed style The painting ABOVE shows a view in Cambridge from the Mill pond, which I painted on site, and not finished,