3 min read
As I write this, we’re in the middle of the holiday season. I just realized I forgot to mention the different holiday versions of the profile picture I use in my original identity post. While I could add them there, given how unique and whimsical these are, it’s actually better to have them separate.
Currently, there are two - a Halloween and a Christmas-themed one.
“Sora: Happy Halloween!” by Daniel Bui, 2013
First, the Halloween-themed one - the one I’ve been using the longest, since at least 2016.
It was around this time that I standardized my online presence to “chemicalsora.” Initially, I created this spontaneously as a YouTube handle. Although I made an account very early in the platform’s inception, the name “Sora” was unavailable. I suppose four-letter handles are quite difficult to obtain, regardless of platform. In any case, it serves as an interesting anecdote about the origin of my username.
A still of Tsugumi I sometimes use as a icon. From chapter 206 of Nisekoi: False Love.
Anyway, back to Halloween Sora. Initially, I was using either Vector Itachi or a cropped panel featuring Seishiro Tsugumi from Nisekoi, as shown right above. However, standardizing on the name that included “Sora” as part of it opened up possibilities to incorporate Sora-themed icons, such as one featuring his Halloween Town attire. I must’ve tried several variations that ultimately didn’t satisfy me until I stumbled upon the one above. I particularly liked the pose and the serenity of his smile—it perfectly captured Sora’s essence in my mind.
There it is—a Halloween-themed icon that I use every October, possibly even since mid-September if I’m feeling particularly cheeky.
Holiday Itachi, 2023.
The newest addition to my collection, Holiday Itachi, was born out of my desire to have a holiday-themed icon I’d use instead of the default blazpu Itachi. I commissioned Donut once again for this character, as her style perfectly matched my vision.
The turnaround was remarkably quick: about a day after the request was acknowledged. As drawing chibis is her specialty, I shouldn’t be surprised by her talent, but still find myself in awe. There was one revision I asked for: the addition of the anger symbol. I pictured Itachi being unhappy about having to wear holiday clothing and requested that it be visually represented.
In addition to the anger symbol, she modified the eyebrows to convey anger. A small blush was added and squinted eyes, resembling the expression of someone who is genuinely upset in real life. The original artwork is cropped to a 1:1 ratio, but as I was using circle icons, I made minor adjustments to accommodate this aspect, resulting in the modified version.
So, what’s next? Perhaps an Easter version, but that’s tricky. I’d need to convince myself that Itachi would be a suitable choice. Currently, I don’t envision him with bunny ears, even if I requested him to be depicted as embarrassed while wearing them. The most probable option is a birthday icon. I’m currently using a Sora icon with a birthday hat, which works, but there’s room for improvement.