I just want to preface by saying that I've been a huge fan of yours for a while and was so excited when I saw you were teaching a class, Ricardo. 

I took a slightly different approach to this project just because I tend to have such a hard time creating a handwritten version that I am satisfied with. 

So here is my initial sketch:

I then scanned in my sketch and took it to illustrator where I traced it using the pen tool:

Then I brought it into photoshop and used the shading technique that you showed us, added a gold foil fill, and threw an old photo I took a while ago in the backgorund:

I look forward to any feedback the class has for me.

Thanks again for such a great class, Ricardo!

Edit:

Here are a few more I've done in my spare time!