For a while, I have been considering how fashion and social groups have re-modelled the hobby over the years. Now, I really got involved in the hobby proper around 1980/81; at the start of a decade which was creatively unsurpassed in the 20th century.  The music (although at the time I ignored much of it) the fashions (ditto) and indeed the gaming hobby was more varied than at any other time. The Cold War was winding down, the drab colours of the 70s were fading to black, to be replaced by vibrant hues. Hair was big, the Baby Boomers had bred and their offspring embraced life, big time.We had Heavy Rockers, Prog' Rockers, Punks, Skinheads, Glams, Goths, Townies, Urban Vagabonds, New Romantics, Mods and probably a few more youth sub cultures that in the befuddled LateSummer Season of life have slipped my mind.  Whatever your taste in clothes, cause of adult deafness or outlook on life; there was something for you. Apropos of nothing, I was listen...

Take a look at http://greblord-littlemen.blogspot.co.uk Pete Armstrong was a great inspiration and irritant to me in my formative years. Modern painters, take note... You didn't write the rule book, it was people like Pete and the amazingly talented Andy Ritson who got there first, using paints and methods that today's generation, frankly would not know what to do with. That said, Pete is still evolving and absorbing the latest mediums into his own style. Originality of this type will always score top marks in my books over slavish following of fashionable 'en vogue' styles...