Don't play with it

I've been working on a new gift-piece at work. This is a dolphin fish also known as Mahi-Mahi. It was inspired by someone who helped me tremendously to achieve a personal goal who... loves fish.

This is my first attempt at drawing a fish. I had first discovered it on Facebook from his Facebook profile photo. I absolutely loved the colours. It took a bit to work up the nerve but I think it came out pretty nicely for a first shot.

Firstly I penciled in a sketch on the canvas.

Then proceeded to layer in the heavy background colours.

Then proceeded to add in the varied tones above the background colours.

Added in the "dirty" details such as the scars and algae like appearance.

Proceeded to rub in a watercolour block for the background... I know, I know, laziness. BUT I wanted to lift the colour quickly and I was lazy to mix the acrylic to achieve this.

Full layout.

Watercolour blended in.

flattened out in seem-ably poor lighting -_-