Thanks for the thoughts everyone. I agree that this last one is working to show both interaction and architecture better than the first two. I’m going to keep developing these ideas further in this new direction.
ScottC-Thanks for the kind words, and good luck to you!
SFedor-Yes, I do see the religious aspect, and will do my best to explore those ideas. Thanks for your thoughts!
More to come soon!
was thinking , if you plan to do a matte painting, do you have to go and take the
photos for it yourself, since they usually want you to make everything for the
challenge from scratch?
.
Squibbit-That is a very good point. This may be a good exercise in photo taking as well! Thanks for your insight on that!
great sketches. i would love to see more.
btw about that squabbit siad. very good point ill ask in the Q&A forum.
–update–
i found this in the Q&A nimbus posted. so i guess it is ok to use existing textures, but i am sure you would get extra points if you made your own assests for the project.
Q: While I know its ok to use 2D textures in this 3D project…is it going to be ok to use a 2D element as a back drop? Like a background…like a matte painting?
A: Yes. You should always use every tool that is apropriate in the best way possible.Mmm, I like the latest one, it has a sophisticated and mature look to it.
Good luck 
Slav-Thanks so much for hunting that down, and thanks for the update on that! I agree it would be good to use one’s own photos…I might just try that!
BaronImpossible-Thanks, I appreciate your thoughts!
Wow! Great stuff…fasinating. You have great skill. Love the value, color choice and composition. Inspiring, indeed.
I’ve worked this one up a bit more. I’m thinking of diving into this one, but want to explore the overall design of costumes and architecture before I go much further. I’m also exploring symbolic elements that I can add in to reinforce the story I’m attempting to tell with the image. We’ll see what comes of it!
ok, hmmm. I like where you’re taking this idea, but this new update didn’t do it for me. The top chopper-aircraft is hard to read, seems welded to the background building and makes the picture look too crowded. I’d keep one of the two, the chopper or the building, but not both. As for the Jesus guy, I liked it better when his chin was heading up, cause if he looks up, you look up.
I still love the mood and pallete 
Keep up the good work!
I’ve been developing this further, refining the color scheme, and detailing the main figure a bit more. I’ve made her looking up towards the sky more, based on the previous comment, and adjusted the top right ship so that it separates from the background building. That had been bugging me for awhile too! Thanks for your comments!
The previous colour version look so good for me… but this is nicer too
It’s very cool see this WIP growing like an impressionist painting
I’ve begun working on the detailing of the main picture, and wanted to show it up close from beginning to end for all to see. I’m in the process of working on the sky as well, and will have an update on that as well.
Awesome start! I really dig ur sketching style, where everything is so rough and raw, but the viewer can see million things in there. Brush textures are something Im still learning and exploring Love the idea of depicting ceremony, maybe a wedding or something, between those two species. Keep up the good work, cant wait to see more
Those colours are tremendous. Looks like you got them right first time, something I very rarely manage.
I have one small niggle, however; there’s something bugging me about her arms. I thought at first they should be slightly longer but now I’m not too sure.
Maybe it’s their angle. If you imagine she’s standing against a wall then her right arm would make an angle of maybe 30 degrees whilst her left arm would be almost flat against the wall. Which is perfectly possible of course, but I think the non-symmetry could be what’s bugging me.
Would it be improved by having her left arm coming towards us more, foreshortening it and getting rid of the effect where we see her left hand as side on? Don’t know, just a thought 
Awesome concept! I like the colours and composition of it all.
I can’t wait to see what your aliens are going to look like.
Good luck!