I think you're developing along the lines you're aiming to develop. Keep going!

Thanks. Mostly what I want to develop with this is coloring stuff to get effects on purpose.

I suspect I'm getting near a tolerable level of mediocrity, though, and will have to start shoring up anatomy instead.

Hmm. Sorry to nitpick, but the facial expression is a bit hard to decipher, and I might not have figured out what's going on without explanations. Not sure what to advise... perhaps try more exaggerated/theatrical faces for now, and a wider/slightly rotated angle to make it clear he's in a spotlight.

Bonus points for trying, though. Not an easy thing to draw, and it does portray what it's supposed to if you look closely.