Drawing A Cover for Your Story In Progress

    At least one of my writer friends and myself have done this before, sketching out covers for the novels we've written. My friend's end result is an impressive piece of art, and my own . . . well, they're not as impressive. But they're not too shabby either.
   And you know, I think designing a cover for a story in progress really helps the writing process. Whether you sketch with pencils, go full-out with colored pencils and pen, do some techy wonders with a computer program, or take actual pictures and add captions to them, it's useful.

This is a cover I sketched out on my computer
via Paint for a story I was writing a couple years ago.
 As you can see, I am not one of the talented people
who can use a computer to make great art!
(By the way, the reason they have no pupils is because
they're supposed to be identical and I thought trying
to make the pupils align perfectly would be impossible.
Sorry if it looks creepy!)

    For one, creativity is being put to work. Thinking about which color schemes look better and what formats are cooler tap into the right side of the brain.
    Secondly, it can help you realize what sort of image represents the tone and the gist of the story. Should the protagonist be on the cover, or their trusty tool? Should the villain be on there too? And a background shot of the story setting? Which location in the setting? What kind of image would properly invite a potential reader into the story?
    Thirdly, it can aid in visualization of your character. It lets a person see what their character descriptions actually make the character look like. Maybe so-and-so's eyes should be almond-shaped instead of bouncy ball round. Wow, her hair looks really nice long instead of short. Green would probably be a better color for his eyes. Yes! Finally got the smile on this character's face just right!  Etcetera.
    Plus, having an image of what your story could become, published with an official cover, can be really encouraging and motivating! Can you see it now? Pinned to the corkboard or whiteboard or wall, your novel's front cover with your character (or whatever the focus element is) shining in color, with the title displayed in large letters above and your own name printed in smaller lettering below. A beautiful display of the work you're working hard on. Something you're working towards. Almost like a writing target to shoot for.
    So in conclusion: designing a front cover for the story you're working on (at least in my opinion) is useful and fun.
    What do you think? Have you ever designed a cover for your story? Have you drawn it out, computerized it, taken pictures, or is it still in written form?