Folk art has its place, as does campy expressions of taste, just not on my guns thank you very much! I can look at it all day long and appreciate it for what it is, but it won't follow me home.

To fully express what is in an artists soul takes much dedication to mastery of the medium through which he is expressing himself. To create artworks when short of having mastered the skills, is to surely present what the artist feels but it is then lacking that certain something which carries it into the realm of beauty, and it shall forever be relegated to the realm of folk art. Very very few have ever picked up the tools of the medium and immediately created something of pleasing and enduring quality. It's also a rare moment when an analytical minded engineer also has an artist's soul, and creates something of timeless beauty with flowing lines. The guys who designed the U.S. Krag had it, IMO. John Browning had it too (mostly).

Tastes change over time and geography.  Some people like 'Baroque' and some 'Craftsman'.
  Some beauty is timeless and almost universal.
Feel free to express your individuality!