Why Did You Choose Your Avatar?

Jeffan Caliarthan

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As a complement to the "Why Did You Pick Your Name?" thread, let's talk about your avatar!

I've actually had four avatars during my time at the Tower, but I've worn this face for at least a decade.

I chose my avatar because I liked his vibrant red hair and just the general use of color in the piece overall. I don't really have any kind of response to the blindfold - I just thought it was a cool aspect of the piece?

The artist is Christine M. Griffin, and it was done as a commission, but not for me. Here's the original and a blurb of the piece:

10165_1132203600.jpg


A character commission, and I don't know much about the critter except that he's a blind mage, who attempts to make up for his lack of sight by festooning himself with brightly colored bits of cloth. Methinks he doesn't realize he's a fashion victim!

I've brightened up the image a little bit, simply because it was a bit too depressingly colored. I also gave him a slight smile and changed the bandana from green to blue.

I've attempted to reach out to the artist quite a few times, but they've never responded. They were last active on epilogue.net in 2009 and they didn't have a presence anywhere else, so I don't think I'll ever hear from them.

So, why did you choose your avatar? :D
 

Thaddius al'Guy

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My avatar was a choice of "I can't get a response from the artists I sent out about using a specific piece of art" So someone helped me with getting a free use avatar. It has been my avatar ever since, but I've been slowly changing it as time has gone on. The mustache addition people picked up on right away. I changed the hair color from red to more my real hair color and I don't think anyone had noticed yet...
 

Leala ni al'Dareis t'al'Caleum

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I changed the hair color from red to more my real hair color and I don't think anyone had noticed yet...

Oh, I hadn't noticed! It is more brown. :D It might be too dark to lighten it up to 100% your hair color, though.
 

Thaddius al'Guy

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It's definitely too dark for my skill level. I've been trying for the last several days to get something I like. I have a few more things to try though.
 

Adanys Wynterwulf

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Thad, I had not noticed the hair, but I like the addition of the facial hair.

My first one was a commission by Serena Rocca (huge fan of her), and I loved that piece! I even had golden eyes.

But then @Polegnyn Nemeara sent me this one and said it resembled the one I had at the time. I didn't do anything for a good long while, but then I got the hankering (is my Texas showing?) to change things up and went back for this one. It does resemble my previous avatar, and I like the smirk on her much better than I liked the smile on my last one. Much more suited to my personality, I feel. And it's got some steampunk vibes :pleased-1:

Also, as this is a character the artist created, there's different shots of her for different moods :shifty
 

Ariadne Davion

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My original Avatar was actually from the very very first WoT account I ever made back in 2001. I shifted to this when I was able to connect with one of my favorite friends who does amazing art. I commissioned her to make something based off my original avatar because copyright was impossible to find and it made me feel uncomfortable. While the original version she made was more flowing hair and gray, she was so kind in giving me the PSD for me to play with as needed. When I changed Ajah's I had a lot of fun playing with all the complementary colors! :D
 

Leala ni al'Dareis t'al'Caleum

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I used the character I drew for my Accepted avatar as a basis for this one, but I wanted a shawl to be visible.

I wanted to include a dragon too, and also red, because it's my favorite color. Then, I got the idea to include the red dragon on Aiel clan chiefs' arms, but an actual dragon, based on the Dragon banner curled around my arm. :)
 

Cahalan Sothron

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This is actually my 3rd avatar since I joined the site. The first was a picture of an actress that I had always used in conjunction with the name I joined with, as well (same as one of my role playing characters). Right before I got raised to Accepted, I changed both my name and avatar. I really loved that avatar and had it for the majority of my time here. But I could never truly get full approval for using it, and I decided I wanted something commissioned so I didn't have to worry about permission ever again :laugh: The one I have now was done by a friend based on some specifics I gave her (again after a character of mine, though for a book idea this time), and I think it suits me well. I dunno that she really based the face on me, but I reckon it's close enough that someone might make the connection if they met me somewhere :pleased-1:
 

Lyndo Shiranui

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Well, it is me, so... :indifferent:
 
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Ilverin Matriam

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I also used another avatar from the beginning. I liked her very much, but I dont think anyone ever found out who the artist was.
So I decided to paint over one of my photos and to make me look like an Aes Sedai (hence the glowing orb infront of my face :laugh: )
 

Jocasta Braithe

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I used the character I drew for my Accepted avatar as a basis for this one, but I wanted a shawl to be visible.

I wanted to include a dragon too, and also red, because it's my favorite color. Then, I got the idea to include the red dragon on Aiel clan chiefs' arms, but an actual dragon, based on the Dragon banner curled around my arm. :)

This is the coolest story. I love your baby dragon. :)
 

Elania al'Manir

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Back in The Day™ we had a list of artists with published usage policies so we knew they were safe. That's why you'll see a lot of avatars that feature art from Jonathon Bowser, the artist of my avatar, as well as several other artists that I don't remember. That's also why I have a link to his website in my signature - it's one of the usage requirements.

So anyway, I basically looked through the various artists' websites, picked the style I liked best, and then found one that wasn't already taken. :laugh: Since then, I've purchased a large print of the full piece and had it framed.

I also had a different avatar for a bit because I had wanted something more... digital/modern/clean/whatever. I had avatar envy. But I realized that it was never really me, so when I came back from a leave of absence I asked to switch back to my current version and haven't changed it since, although I occasionally change the color of my dress.

Elania3.jpg
 

Sarramy Valtiele

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I've had a few through my time on here but ran into permission issues along the way. One of my favorites had originally been released as free to use but then they revoked the permission. I was sad to lose that one. The one I have now I chose because I was looking for something that reflected my Pagan beliefs and connection with nature.
 

Stasia t'Andrei

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I'll start with my original avatar because the reason for that is pretty simple... I had dial up internet. Loading the album with all the avatar possibilities was, quite frankly, painful. So I picked the first one that was available (not in use by someone else), and looked cool enough.
JZATyNM.jpg


Many years later, I both had no idea who the artist of my original avatar was, and didn't really think the picture represented me at all anymore. So I went searching and found the painting Narcissus by John William Waterhouse (quite a few other people on the site have avatars by him, I think). I think she looks like me in RL, and I would totally wear her pink dress to ren faire! She's been my face ever since.

Full image:
narcissus-1912.jpg!Large.jpg
 

Anujun Trahearn

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I commissioned my avatar from an artist on Fiverr, in my likeness, with Tar Valon and Dragonmount in the background. I also changed it a fair bit from the original, especially after being raised to Aes Sedai :)

New is on the left, original is on the right:

a6jaBke.png

By the way, if anybody wants avatar edits, I do this as a free service, and you should check out my thread over here :)
 

Dnae Ila

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I still have the same face I started with, but I've changed it quite a bit over my journey through the Tower to reflect my "status."
I just browsed deviant art for hours until I found one that I liked. Her face captured me instantly. The artist has actually done some other people's avatars, too.

I always intended to change it when I was raised and even had another picked out (by the same artist, with similar hair and features) but when the time came around, I just couldn't do it. This is my face.
girl_by_sharandula_d5k6ie2-pre.jpg
 

Jocasta Braithe

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I've had a few through my time on here but ran into permission issues along the way. One of my favorites had originally been released as free to use but then they revoked the permission. I was sad to lose that one. The one I have now I chose because I was looking for something that reflected my Pagan beliefs and connection with nature.

Your avatar is so pretty, I like the reasons you chose it. I picked mine for similar reasons. She's an artist's rendition of the Queen of Cups from the Tarot. I started with more traditional tarot decks, but I couldn't find any that allowed public use. So I looked for Tarot themed art on DeviantArt until I found something I loved!
 

Leira Galene

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I've had the same one since I joined, it's Venus from Venus and Mars by Sandro Botticelli. I was looking for something that didn't have a copyright so I didn't have to ask permission, and I like Botticelli. I really like the look on Venus' face in this particular painting; she looks very contemplative. Plus I wish I had hair like that.
 

Sarramy Valtiele

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Your avatar is so pretty, I like the reasons you chose it. I picked mine for similar reasons. She's an artist's rendition of the Queen of Cups from the Tarot. I started with more traditional tarot decks, but I couldn't find any that allowed public use. So I looked for Tarot themed art on DeviantArt until I found something I loved!
Thank you! I love yours too. I wholeheartedly support tarot based avatars!
 
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