It's Sunday evening and this coming Friday I teach my next class. I like to try and keep these very informal and let everyone have a go at painting rather than watch me stand at the front doing a demonstration. The reason for this is that I believe a) everyone would rather do something other than listen to me drone on b) people learn much better by doing and making mistakes than simply watching someone doing something and c) as they have a go any problems that crop up can be discussed either as a class activity or on a one to one basis whichever people prefer. The downside of this though is that every month about this time I realise I haven't actually got a clue as to what I'm going to suggest as a topic in five days time. Furthermore, not only have I got to come up with an idea but I then have to paint it and make sure there is a reasonable chance that everyone, regardless of their abilities, will be able to complete it within about an hour and a half. In addition to this it must have enough flexibility so that the less experienced will perhaps paint less than my picture and be happy with the result and the most experienced will have time to develop their own ideas based on the theme and feel they too have been challenged. Time to get the old thinking cap out I guess and hope it's not shrunk to much in the wash since the last time I used it!!!!