Photoshop, about 22 hours.
Here're the progress snapshots for those who might be interested:
[link]This time the

peeps are casting a wide net:
The theme is a creature of any sort, done in the format of a cover for their newly started Concepteez Magazine-
the winner obviously being used as the real thing for the next issue. That's in addition to getting a 1-year dA subscription!
It took some time to sort through my mental menagerie of critters to find one I thought was cover-worthy:
What I found was this curious little guy.

Dispatch from planetary survey team to orbital support vessel:
We've got good news and bad news.
The good news:
We've discovered that as long-distance observations predicted, B-45tI is a world with abundant, highly evolved lifeforms.
Additionally, one of these lifeforms is highly intelligent- initial recon indicates a thriving early iron-age civilization!
The bad news:
We need to replace Officer Martinez's wardrobe, half our rations, one of the new portable terminals, and one flashlight.
Apparently the aforementioned natives have a natural aptitude for lockpicking.
Great job on this piece. I love the details, the lighting and also the composition.
Best of luck!
Doing these contests really has been a great help in improving, I have to say;
keep me on my toes, especially rounds like this one where the heavies come out to play!