The following are the three avatars I developed for the class we held in Second Life.
First, here is the avatar I made using Second Life's in-game facial and body adjustment tools.
Second, here is the avatar I created using a photograph of my face and a facial template:
Lastly, here is the "fantastical" avatar I created. I used a facial template and photoshop to design the face of the alien. In the full-body picture you can also see the 3D orb objects I created to be part of this alien creature's presence. I linked the orbs to its body so any time I moved my avatar the orbs all floated along.