This is one basic, simple idea to play a part for my Wind in the Willows book cover.  After getting to know more about the story, it was apparent to me that Toad plays quite a leading role within the story.  I thought it was relevant to include Toad somehow into my book cover.  By doing this I am currently researching how he lived, his interests and lifestyle to make some visually imagery from this.  I know that Toad is wealthy and inherited money from his father and he loves to drive his car.  I am doing the same for Ratty and Mole.  Below is a Toad drawing I produced on Illustrator.  He is holding up his top hat and stick with a quite open representative pose.  This represents Toad's personality as being a kind hearted, happy animal.  I have then used various brushes at different weights and transparency leves to develop light and darks on his head.  On his waist coat I have given it a rough pattern/texture and used the brushes over the top at lower opacity.  This was so you can still see the pattern through the colour.