Neko (PLAYER)

[Chris2Balls [:B]]

I prefer the sketch too. Here's a quick edit of the face, with some of the cross-hatching thing:

I think you're better off using the sketch directly, by perhaps following one of Kiwi's awesome tutorials!
Keep experimenting with the hatching patterns: you can play around with 1x1, 2x2, 3x3, 4x4, their direction, their tone, etc. I used it like big dithering/checkerboard.

Good luck!

Edit:

I messed around with the concept art you posted. If you have a higher resolution of that drawing, you can get some clearer lines when you reduce. It can be done, it can be faster and it can look better!