I haven't posted here in a while either...
This is like an avatar-themed hangout in some sense, but lately there is not much of a conversation going on perhaps?

A weekly avatar topic would be nice. Or just challenge each other, without a prize? ;-)

It would be nice, any of them would.
I personally don't care much about the prize, I do like the challenge. And I would host them myself but I usually run out of ideas...


I don't know, maybe a topic comes easier?
Let me think of one. Hmmm....


Hand items: yeah or nay?

I usually like adding details to my avatars, so a hand item is a must for me.
But I've noticed some people prefer not to use them, maybe for the sake of symmetry.

What's your choice, and why?

It generally feels empty without one but that depends on how busy the hair/background is.

So for you it depends on how empty/cluttered the avatar feel?

See, I like my avatar holding something.
If the avatar is cluttered then I might go for something small or in a color that blends, but always holding something.
Otherwise it feels... like it's missing something.

I often add something to the hand to compensate for the emptiness around it? Even though some items layer kinda weirdly or hide too much of the clothes. Dunno. I do like the flowers. I did use a staff this time, 'cause... It's an old avatar and there wasn't a flower in this color at that time. XD

There's no symmetry anyways, 'cause one hand's up and one down. And there's just slightly more space on the right anyway.

There is no actual symmetry because the figure is turning slighly towards one side. Plus only one of the hands is up.

But in my eyes there is pretty much the same amount of blankness to every side of an empty avatar.
It's just that the left is filled with wings or sashes or capes, while the right would be filled with a hand item. If the avatar does not have any item on the back, maybe there would be a symmetry with an empty hand.

(I never make that kind of avatars, it's all hypothetical.)

Don't care that much about symmetry, it mostly bothers me that some items look weird posed like that. Like the bags, try holding your hand up like that with a bag. It's just a super weird pose in real life. For a staff it makes sense, for some items, less. Also the ducky or other tiny items that the avatar would hold upwards to "show" off, you'd hold your hand differently. Or straighten your fingers at least.

Soo often I try it and am like. Eh, nah. Nevermind. xD I just usually prefer realistic avatars over fantasy. It's nothing really, just my pet peeve.

I'm completely into fantasy avatars. But even so they have to make some sense, they are not completely random.
And I usually go for a theme anyway.

Eeee excited for the halloween event! If no one else makes a contest for the new items soon, I will!