When I first came to tournament re-enactments through the SCA, it was the armour that drew me. Through the arms of the knight we can actually touch something of the knights who strove during the Middle Ages, men whose lives were shaped and who shaped the ideas of chivalry. I believe that armour is, at base, an important, romantic medieval craft. Like all crafts, it takes technical skill and artistic merit to create a quality piece. To create a piece of armour that strikes the balance between form and function and stay within medieval design elements is difficult.
Some armourers do grow, however.
In order to grow, they must learn the elements of style that define the periods in which they wish to work, perfecting their hammer and their eye simultaneously. The hammer is by far and away the easier thing to learn. But with perseverence and the willingness to look critically at personal projects, the armourer can refine his eye. The best way to do this is to make exact reproductions, graduating to the next level, the creation of a new piece within a period style. To qualify, all elements of the piece must adhere to this style.