Here's the final result at last! A modified version of the picture is already in use as my icon.

I usually get too caught up on tiny details that won't show later on so I tried challenging myself and concentrate on the overall picture and using a method that would translate well into a smaller version.

In the end it turned out pretty well and I think I might offer icon commissions like this in the future once I manage to speed up the process of making these!

Done in Photoshop CS5