runouw.com

Hmm... If you don't mind me asking, what do you use for an art program?

I use Photoshop CS5 and CS6 Extended.

Those signature bars are nice, though a bit chunky, imo. I prefer smaller, but that's my personal preference.
When going with text backgrounds, I'd suggest reducing the opacity slightly or changing the levels, or even adding a transparent radial or normal gradient. Make use of your blur options, such as Gaussian blur or motion blur. These can help accentuate your main picture, be it a person.

Make sure your color schemes don't blind eyes. Know your color theory well, treat it like your bible. This will make your work look much more professional. I take a graphic design class this semester, and if there's one thing I learned, don't put too much detail into your work-- particularly your background (simple, yet a good contrast to your main 'attraction')-- and distract what you're trying to present to your audience, make use of filters, masks, and other photomanipulation options, and make sure it doesn't make eyes bleed. :)

I would post samples, but apparently I'm still a spammy newbie until New Years. :/

Paint.NET. I have Photoshop CS6, but don't want to migrate to it just yet.

I've found that as long as I make my render the main focus of the sigbar, I'm fine with adding detail in the background. I often screw up the coloring and make an eyesore (an example being a banner I made this morning as a test), but when I do get something at least coherent, I put it here.

As I learned from a graphics design veteran once, it's good to work alone without a guide - self-criticism means constant improvement.

I have been wanting to use LF's render for ♥♥♥♥ ever.

Also I did it no justice

Don't have much to say but the shape of your avatars are all really really similar and it bothers me.
Maybe try doing what LF did for my signature and get crazy looking borders.

<AlucardX60> MK it's not bad at all, but I still seem to have a problem with your borders. Dunno why.
<AlucardX60> It could use some random effect here and there to lighten the render, and maybe some kind of snow effect.

I'm not going overkill on my borders.

No the original border was better.

I just can't pinpoint what part of it rubs me the wrong way, because by all logic most of them should be considered good, though at times too thick. (like the Hanasaku one)
Really it's just me.

http://mkstar26.deviantart.com/gallery/41216634

I do dA now

This is annoying to look aaaaaat

I feel that people who make art should get the true story of what they've made, so I'm gonna tell you the truth about this one. I feel it's not one of your best works. Don't get me wrong, I like it, it's neat, but it's just...bland, in my opinion. Rather plain, and unexciting. It just doesn't make me go 'wow', like the rest of your art.

Not that I could make any better :3