08. Add a new layer above the placed image and label it ‘Background’. Now start adding your symbols by dragging their thumbnails onto the artboard. Use the grid, re-size and snap them into position — select shapes that match the underlying colour for best results. Vary their size and rotate and flip them as you work to avoid repetition.
09. Add another layer above the skin and label it ‘Hair’. Follow the same techniques to block in the girl’s hair, using symbols with similar colour values. Also, try leaving some small gaps, so the pixellation from the placed image shows through.
10. Add another layer at the top of the stack and label it ‘Skin’. You’ll need some patience here: because of the facial features, placing symbols randomly will look awful. Choose your skin symbols carefully — generally ones with less contrast and detail work well. Use smaller, more detailed symbols for the eyes, nostrils and lips. It’s helpful to disable the visibility of the original image from time to time, as in the inset.