Solid paint job, well done!
If you enjoyed gradient layering, then you got the most important thing in the hobby, and that is enjoying the process. Glad to hear it.
I would offer advice that helped me with the eyes.
Try to attach the iris to the top eye lid (shadow) and leave white bellow the iris.
Imo it makes an eye appear much better. Often I attempt a top-eye-lid line just to get that effect.
Hope this inspires your next project.