SELECT AN IMAGE
A head shot works really well, but you can choose a full body shot if you prefer. Most important: select an image that has an uncluttered background, or use your Extract tool and extract your selection from its background.
SELECT ARTISTIC FILTER
Go to "Filter" and select "Artistic."
You now have many choices. For my illustration, I selected "Smudge Stick." I then adjusted the sliders until I had the look I preferred.
TWEAK DETAILS
In my illustration, the model has blue eyes; however, when I applied the "Smudge Stick" filter, the eyes were in shadow, so they turned dark.
To give my avatar blue eyes, I used the "Marquee" tool and selected a circle, making certain that the bottom edges of my circle matched the bottom edges of the iris of the eye.
Then, with the "Subtract from Selection" option of the Marquee tool (located on the Menu bar under "Image" and "Layer"), I drew another circle, subtracting from the top portion of the first circle, and leaving a crescent for the lower portion of the iris--the part visible beneath the eyelid.
I then added another layer, so my adjustments would be on a separate layer, and could be easily deleted if they did not suit me. (Be sure to click on the new layer before using the Fill tool.)
With the "Fill" tool, I filled the crescent with blue.
With the "Eraser" tool, take away any parts of the crescent that should not be there.
Repeat with the other eye.
FLATTEN IMAGE AND RESIZE
Now all you have to do is flatten the image and size to desired dimensions.