Currently working on a small environment scene influenced by a Zbrush sketch I a made combined with "Garden of the Gods". Where I'm at currently. You can find more images of the environment and other things below.
So I listened to what others had to say and I agreed that I was going to go for something a bit more detailed. However after some more work messing around the environment I decided to do a sculpt that more placed around the environment and the people within it.
I would do #1. Also the leaves could do with some curvature. And i think you should have a stark difference between the environment mat and the sphere. I think material definition is going to be key for you. Ill keep an eye on this.
Zbrush sketch I made a few weeks ago. You know that idea you get when you complete a sketch you think to yourself, "eh I think it would be nice to make something out of this". So I was like yah I'll definitely add some textures, details, etc. Then you get another idea, "I should really expand this further!!!" Which is…