feeling pissed off (and slightly stupid for not having hitherto realised) that the bp national portrait award doesn't accept work in gouache on paper. not sure whether it's snobbery, a disinclination to handle breakable works or an attempt to keep the floodgates closed. i wonder whether the award should be more honestly renamed (i quote and edit verbatim-ish from the smallprint) the bp paintings-predominantly-of-the-human-figure-in-oil-comma-tempera-or-acrylic-comma-on-a-stretcher-or-board-comma-preferably-framed-and-definitely-not-on-paper-comma-unglazed-and-definitely-not-watercolour-or-pastels award. oh well, i guess it eliminates the queasy competing-for-oil-money quandary...