Wind in the Willows Quartet gears up Illustration

My illustrated edition of Kenneth Grahame's classic Wind in the Willows published by IDW has been released in paperback (order here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796673/the-wind-in-the-willows-with-illustrations-by-david-petersen-by-kenneth-grahame-david-petersen/)!

This book took me years to complete the illustrations for when it was first released, and I'm so pleased to have it back in print, so for this week's post I'm going to share the art process of one of the inked illustrations from the book: Gearing up.

"Rat, with an air of excitement and mystery, summoned them back into the parlour, stood each of them up alongside of his little heap, and proceeded to dress them up for the coming expedition. He was very earnest and thorough-going about it, and the affair took quite a long time. First, there was a belt to go round each animal, and then a sword to be stuck into each belt, and then a cutlass on the other side to balance it. Then a pair of pistols, a policeman's truncheon, several sets of handcuffs, some bandages and sticking-plaster, and a flask and a sandwich-case."

This is one of the main visuals that I always wanted to tackle when daydreaming about someday drawing an edition of Wind in the willows. Before this Rat has gone around making piles of weapons; pistols, swords, etc for each of his friends so they can storm Toad Hall and take it back from the weasels. It's also from one of the few chapters where all four of the main characters are together. Here you can see I've put all the drawings above together, edited in Toad's weapons, and color coded each character to make them easier to see apart from one another.

I inked the final black and white illustration on Strathmore 300 bristol by taping a printout of the above layout onto the back of it and placing it on a Huion light[ad where I could see through the bristol to use the layout as a guide. For pens I used Copic Multiliner SP pens (the 0.7 & 0.3 nibs).

The textures on each of the character's clothes is where most of my focus was so that there were different densities of grey and the illustration wasn't overly muddy with clarity of each character's body language.

My illustrated edition of Wind in the Willows is available NOW for purchase:

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796673/the-wind-in-the-willows-with-illustrations-by-david-petersen-by-kenneth-grahame-david-petersen/

The book has Grahame's original text, with over 70 illustrations by me as well as a new cover (blogpost about that art process: https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2025/09/wind-in-willows-2nd-edition-cover.html).

Badger's Kitchen Hearth Illustration

My illustrated edition of Kenneth Grahame's classic Wind in the Willows published by IDW has been released in paperback (order here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796673/the-wind-in-the-willows-with-illustrations-by-david-petersen-by-kenneth-grahame-david-petersen/)!

This book took me years to complete the illustrations for when it was first released, and I'm so pleased to have it back in print, so for this week's post I'm going to share the art process of one of the color illustrations from the book: Badger's Kitchen Hearth.

"...they found themselves in all the glow and warmth of a large fire-lit kitchen.The floor was well-worn red brick, and on the wide hearth burnt a fire of logs, between two attractive chimney-corners tucked away in the wall, well out of any suspicion of draught. A couple of high-backed settles, facing each other on either side of the fire, gave further sitting accommodations for the sociably disposed."

"...from the rafters overhead hung hams, bundles of dried herbs, nets of onions, and baskets of eggs. It seemed a place where heroes could fitly feast after victory, where weary harvesters could line up in scores along the table and keep their Harvest Home with mirth and song..."

What I found most important about this scene was the feeling of the setting as described from Grahame's text above. So, I built a model of Badger's hearth and of the two tall backed settles (past post about that model: https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2017/02/wind-in-willows-models-badgers-kitchen.html

With the setting drawn using the model as reference, I drew in our three characters after the visitors have changed out of their wet snowy clothes and into warm robes and slippers on another sheet of paper (probably overlaying it with the background drawing for perspective and contact point references). The drawings were scanned separately and assembled in Photoshop.

With the above layout done, I printed that out and taped it to the back of a sheet of Strathmore 300 series bristol. The piece was inked on a Huion lightpad where I could see through the bristol to the printout as a guide to ink from. I used Copic Multiliner SP pens (the 0.3 & 0.7 nibs).

Even though I knew this piece was going to be in color, I needed the inks to enforce the idea that the hearth was emitting the warm glow and the rest of the kitchen started falling into shadow. So I used a lighter touch on the texture and detail the closer everything got to the flames and more dense with ink the closer to the edges of the illustration.

The inks were then scanned and I started the coloring process of establishing flat colors for everything. Some of the colors were already established from the cover art and the other illustrations I'd done of the characters, but getting that overall warm tone of the brick and stone and wood took some playing around even at this early base color stage.

The details of all the food stores hanging from the ceiling were hard to color––I needed the various objects to read properly as hams, onions, garlic, eggs, etc, but I also needed them to fall away into those outer edges of the illustration and not draw attention to themselves. 

This step is also where I established color holds (areas where I want the ink lines to be a color other than black) for the flame, fire glow, Mole's glasses, Badger's gown, Rat's coat, and the china pattern on the table.

The last step was doing the final coloring render––adding in shadows and highlights and textures. That was all done in Photoshop using the dodge and burn tools with a stock textured brush.

It was hard to strike that balance of warmth and glow while also implying the rest of the kitchen has fallen into a late winter's night darkness.

"The kindly Badger thrust them down on a settle to toast themselves at the fire, and bade them remove their wet coats and boots. Then he fetched them dressing-gowns and slippers... In the embracing light and warmth, warm and dry at last, with weary legs propped up in front of them, and a suggestive clink of plates being arranged on the table behind, it seemed to the storm-driven animals, now in safe anchorage, that the cold and trackless Wild Wood just left outside was miles and miles away, and all that they had suffered in it a half-forgotten dream.

My illustrated edition of Wind in the Willows is available NOW for purchase:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796673/the-wind-in-the-willows-with-illustrations-by-david-petersen-by-kenneth-grahame-david-petersen/

The book has Grahame's original text, with over 70 illustrations by me as well as a new cover (blogpost about that art process: https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2025/09/wind-in-willows-2nd-edition-cover.html).

Wind in the Willows Model Reference

My illustrated edition of Kenneth Grahame's classic Wind in the Willows published by IDW has been released in paperback (order here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796673/the-wind-in-the-willows-with-illustrations-by-david-petersen-by-kenneth-grahame-david-petersen/)!

The book has Grahame's original text, with over 70 illustrations by me as well as a new cover (blogpost about that art process: https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2025/09/wind-in-willows-2nd-edition-cover.html).

This book took me years to complete the illustrations for, and I'm so pleased to have it back in print, so for this week's post I'm going to share posts about the physical models I used/built to help me visualize & illustrate the book. Below are photos & videos of the models of Toad's Caravan, Rat's boat, Badger's Kitchen, & Toad Hall

Toad's Caravan & Carriage House Models

Direct link to Caravan Model Video: https://youtu.be/jszqVd476aI

Direct link to Carriage House Model Video: https://youtu.be/LF9jhk1ZIII

Badger's Kitchen Models

Direct link to Cupboard Model Video: https://youtu.be/H-2rMZmGlBQ

Direct link to Kitchen Hearth Model Video: https://youtu.be/y-HFxwQVlN8

Ratty's Home & Boat Models

Direct link to Dining Room Model Video: https://youtu.be/gufQ1VCN6KA

Direct link to Boat Model Video: https://youtu.be/NPFBCWlYbN8

Toad Hall Models

Direct link to Great Hall Model Video: https://youtu.be/glXnKesQPxU

Direct link to Foyer Model Video: https://youtu.be/CyQf2tcyzG0

–––––––––––––––––

My illustrated edition of Wind in the Willows is available NOW for purchase:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796673/the-wind-in-the-willows-with-illustrations-by-david-petersen-by-kenneth-grahame-david-petersen/

Wind in the Willows B&W Illustrations

My illustrated edition of Kenneth Grahame's classic Wind in the Willows published by IDW has been released in paperback (order here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796673/the-wind-in-the-willows-with-illustrations-by-david-petersen-by-kenneth-grahame-david-petersen/)!

The book has Grahame's original text, with over 70 illustrations by me as well as a new cover (blogpost about that art process: https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2025/09/wind-in-willows-2nd-edition-cover.html).

This book took me years to complete the illustrations for, and I'm so pleased to have it back in print, so for this week's post I'm going to share posts about thee of the full-page full-color illustrations in the book as well as the original hardback cover which is now a two page spread in the book.

Inked Illustration Process Post of
Rat & Mole arriving late at Badger's Home.

https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2016/09/wind-in-willows-badgers-entry.html

Inked Illustration Process Post of
The Field Mice packing up and moving after the harvest.
https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2016/10/wind-in-willows-field-mice-illustration.html

Inked Illustration Process Post of

Toad Hiding from the Authorities after escaping Jail
https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2016/08/wind-in-willows-toad-in-hiding.html

–––––––––––––––––

My illustrated edition of Wind in the Willows is available NOW for purchase:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796673/the-wind-in-the-willows-with-illustrations-by-david-petersen-by-kenneth-grahame-david-petersen/

Wind in the Willows Color Illustrations

Today my illustrated edition of Kenneth Grahame's classic Wind in the Willows published by IDW has been released in paperback (order here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796673/the-wind-in-the-willows-with-illustrations-by-david-petersen-by-kenneth-grahame-david-petersen/)!

The book has Grahame's original text, with over 70 illustrations by me as well as a new cover (blogpost about that art process: https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2025/09/wind-in-willows-2nd-edition-cover.html).

This book took me years to complete the illustrations for, and I'm so pleased to have it back in print, so for this week's post I'm going to share posts about thee of the full-page full-color illustrations in the book as well as the original hardback cover which is now a two page spread in the book.

Art Process Post of
Mole & Rat departing with a picnic basket after becoming fast friends.

https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2017/01/wind-in-willows-rat-mole-color.html

Art Process Post of
Rat, Badger, & Mole confronting Toad's motorcar obsession.

https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2016/05/wind-in-willows-jacket-process.html

Art Process Post of
Toad getting disguised by the jailer's daughter as a washerwoman to escape prison.

https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2016/12/wind-in-willows-washerwoman-toad-color.html

Art Process Post of

The quartet using the secret passage in the Butler's Pantry to take back Toad Hall.

https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2017/01/wind-in-willows-butlers-pantry-color.html

–––––––––––––––––

My illustrated edition of Wind in the Willows is available NOW for purchase:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796673/the-wind-in-the-willows-with-illustrations-by-david-petersen-by-kenneth-grahame-david-petersen/

Wind in the Willows 2nd edition Cover

I am thrilled to announced that after being out of print for many years, my illustrated edition of Wind in the Willows is be re-released by IDW October 7th 2025!

Back when I first illustrated the book about a decade ago, it was a bucket list project for me. Getting to return to the book and create a new cover for the new edition was a delight and offered me a chance to update the cover. Here you see the cover with title, spine treatment and back blurb, but below I'll go into the process of revisiting these riverbankers and wild wooders.

One of the troubles I had with the first edition cover (which will be included as a 2 page spread illustration in this edition) was a scene that included all four characters. I see this book as a true ensemble cast, but the number of times they are all together are very limited and mostly occur at the end of the book. So for this cover I went with circular portraits of them over a scenic view of the river with drapes of willow branches hanging down.

I'd already drawn versions of these portraits for bookplates that were never produced for the first release, I cobbled those together with branches in one of the existing interior illustration, redrew Rat and Mole messing-about-in-boats for the back cover...and drew a new version of Toad Hall...which I heavily based on this photo of the back of Mapledurham House, a location long used by other Willows adapters as reference and what I used my first go-around.

With the above layout assembled using old and new drawings with digitally blocked in color, I set about inking the new version. I know I could have kept the old portraits, but for the sake of the new piece being a complete work of art and to keep the line quality consistent through the whole piece, I inked the whole thing from scratch.

The original is roughly 24" x 16" and even at that large scale it was difficult to ink the details of Toad Hall as well as I wanted.

I scanned the art (in several passes since something that large won't fit on my scanner bed) and started the coloring process. The first step, called flatting' is about establishing all the color areas with flat colors (though there are a few quickly painted gradients I put down quickly to map out what my plan was. This step also includes doing color holds (areas where I want the inkwork to be a color other than black) and pretty much everything is a color hold here...the portraits are a dark brown the frames are a warmer brown the water, the clouds, the willows, and the distance all get some tone to soften this image so there are no harsh black lines.

The last step was to render the final colors. I mostly used the dodge and burn tools in Photoshop while using a stock textured brush––but I also used the paintbrush with another soft textured brush for some of the more subtle color transitions. Here you can see the full cover art with no trade dress.

Wind in the Willows will be in stores October 7th 2025 published by IDW

And you can pre-order it here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796673/the-wind-in-the-willows-with-illustrations-by-david-petersen-by-kenneth-grahame-david-petersen/

Wind in the Willows Models: Rat's Boat & Dining Area

My illustrated edition of Kenneth Grahame's classic Wind in the Willows published by IDW has been released! The book has Grahame's original text, with over 70 illustrations by me.

For this week's blogpost I'm going to share a few of the physical models I used/built to help me visualize & illustrate the book. Below are photos of the models of Rat's boat & Rat's Dining Area. I've also included a few videos of me talking about the models.

RAT'S BOAT:

The first model I made for Wind in the Willows was Rat's boat. It's chipboard & bristol board. The oars are basswood & chipboard.

RAT'S DINING AREA:

I did purchase a few Victorian/Edwardian doll house furniture kits. Here I used a cupboard, round table & chairs with some printed paper windows, chip board & cardboard ceiling, and a paper oval mirror to make Rat's Dining area. 

Wind in the Willows from IDW is available to order at your local comic or book shop -or-
on Amazon.com:

https://www.amazon.com/Wind-Willows-Illustrations-David-Petersen/dp/1631403435

For all my other Wind in the Willows Process Posts:

http://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/search/label/Willows

2017 Appearances: 

Emerald City Comic Con: Mar. 2-5

C2E2: April 21-23

Heroes Con: Jun. 16-18

San Diego Comic Con: July 19-23

Baltimore Comic Con: Sept. 22-24

New York Comic Con: Oct. 5-8

Wind in the Willows Models: Badger's Kitchen

My illustrated edition of Kenneth Grahame's classic Wind in the Willows published by IDW has been released! The book has Grahame's original text, with over 70 illustrations by me.

For this week's blogpost I'm going to share a few of the physical models I built to help me visualize & illustrate the book. Below are photos of the models from Badger's Kitchen. I've also included a video of me talking about the models.

BADGER'S HEARTH:

The hearth model itself is made from chipboard with paper printed as brick glued on and basswood & popsicle stick details. The matching settles are basswood and the stand-in hanging hams & braided garlic is tissue & string.

 BADGER'S CUPBOARD SHELVES:

This was made out of basswood (typically used for doll-house parts) I referenced a few Edwardian pieces, and then built this to-scale with quarters as dinner plates. The bowls you see are store-bought doll-house pieces.

Wind in the Willows from IDW is available to order at your local comic or book shop -or-
on Amazon.com:

https://www.amazon.com/Wind-Willows-Illustrations-David-Petersen/dp/1631403435

For all my other Wind in the Willows Process Posts:

http://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/search/label/Willows

2017 Appearances: 

Emerald City Comic Con: Mar. 2-5

C2E2: April 21-23

Heroes Con: Jun. 16-18

San Diego Comic Con: July 19-23

Baltimore Comic Con: Sept. 22-24

New York Comic Con: Oct. 5-8