@rgdraw @hirtenmaina @Fris Thank you friends I'll do my best as well as enjoying the most out of this challenge!

WIP front THETA
He's a 'sun energy', technically a living power source in a mech.

Later will generate some clothing designs and variations of his face mask. Also needs distributing level of details and resting areas properly.
Currently not satisfied with his arms, still adjusting it's length and bulkiness.

Enough info to start planning illustration, until next time will see some back view, colors and composition!

Okay so unfortunately I was busy somewhere else with no internet. I'll just update what I managed to do from the past 2 weeks. Here's what I got:

Here is the semi-final version of THETA front and back.

Here's a rough layout of his final character sheet. I still have some spare space to add his skills ( some Gravity force control and he can shoot THETA beam, like his name suggest), I'll leave this part aside for now and focus on the illustration. When I doodle some better supplementary stuff I'll just keep replacing elements here until it's complete.

So, heading to the illustration part:

I had a big struggle for days choosing thumbnails cause all them have different strengths and weaknesses.
My ideal picture in general is: The character standing in an orrery room doing his gravity skills, IF can show sky with constellation would be extra great.
Some of my analysis:
-1- Is easily the 'safe zone'
-2- Gets that powerful dynamic angle and beautiful circle composition and overview of the orrery room, but I was doubting the high angle gives that 'intimidating' feel that doesn't fit the character's passive vibe.
-3- Got a really peaceful desert surreal feeling that makes the character look big and passive, but is it too passive? As much as it fits, this is war.
-4- Different from the rest, this one he's using his Theta beam to explode some object coming towards him. Though shows the aggression really well, it doesn't fit his personality, and I find a bit too ambitious with all the actions and especially the lighting from the beam. I know my place...
-5- I really love this one to be honest, really nice pose, but to be fair this one is too erm...delicate lol. And I'm afraid it has no space to give the background some story.

So here's what I decided to do: I combined 2 and 5.

My best effort to get THETA to float in an orrery room with sky and constellation, and him passively doing his gravity move (have the planet hit some obstacle to suggest he can destroy things), while keeping his heroic character in control.

I got the color key, and correct some perspective issues.
Hopefully I can push it to the finish stage within the remaining two weeks, I really do cause I'm pretty much in the danger zone now. Oh well, best is not to panic.

At this stage I already forgot about this being a contest, I just want to do this character justice.

Thanks guys!

WIP

I spend a whole lot of time doing what I called volumetric base, especially for the character. Though boring compare to other stage, this will help in the long run for someone like me.
Again, thanks guys!

Thank you so much!

Last WIP of the year

I completed the ambient occlusion and lighting setup for the character. Now that's there, I have all the layers in control in which I can start rendering meaningful details (materials, weathering, and yes background...later).

Besides that, I'll be counting down with my dude THETA right here tonight in my photoshop screen so anyone still working overnight just know that you're not alone we're in this together .

Thanks again everyone for the lucks and wishes it really means a lot!
@ElizabethPL Thank you so much I'll do my best!
@innocent Haha that would be sth interesting if I submit the illustration in cell shading style Now I feel the need to do the rendered version as appealing too!