Hello,
I just installed the game and it's great! I also know now why Mattn and co wanted a 2D art made for "Alien Origins." At first I thought it was just going to be for the wiki but it's for the ingame research progress screen.
Since it's about discovering where they came from, I was thinking to paint a collage showing the solar system. (a big Mars at foreground with the Sun as the vanishing point. The Sun of course will be the light source, Mars will have a deep contrast --- showing day and night sides. At the night side, half of a Taman's head will be shown, its other half swallowed by the night side of mars.)
This will symbolize the elusiveness and the enigmatic nature of the aliens. Also, needless to say, the immensity of space will have its impact on the viewer.
Thoughts?
I really want to help. I salute people who make great games for free. (Now if someone will teach me how to make a "patch" and how to submit it it to the patch tracker...)