Remember when I blogged about that contest where Colleen Doran challenged artists to submit their work to be considered for a cash grant of $250 and to be promoted in Colleen’s blog? Well, the winners have been chosen!

First prize went to Charity Larrison, graphic designer and illustrator of the beautiful Webcomic “Busted Wonder.” Charity’s work reminds me at once of Winsor McKay and Paul Pope. Her inks have a lush, painterly line quality and yet everything she draws looks three-dimensional and lifelike. Not an easy skill.

You can read the fourth part (at least I think it was the fourth part — I lost count!) of Charity’s profile in Colleen’s blog here. Also, check out Charity’s blog, her online store, and the Busted Wonder Webcomic written by Kieron Gillen and illustrated by Charity.

Okay, did you check them out? No? What are you waiting for? Do it! I’ll wait.

Good. Now that you’re back, let’s have a look at Sue McLoughlin, owner and sole proprietor of Suso Fashions. Sue creates costumes and custom clothes aimed at the cosplay, live-action roleplay, and renfair crowds among others. You just have to admire someone who can drill in on a niche market like this and succeed.

You can read the second part of Sue’s profile in Colleen’s blog here, and delve into Sue’s wonderful creations even further at her own Web site. Oh, and Sue, you may expect to receive an inquiry from me in a week or so about whether or not I can commission you for something.

Did you check out Sue’s work? Great. Now that you’re back, I’d like to give you a heads up about my next post. It’s about me, because, hey, it’s MY blog! Jokes aside, I’m a bit nervous about posting it because it will represent a level of self-disclosure I haven’t dared since my very first post in this blog back in January 2006. But I think it’s worth discussing openly for a number of reasons, not the least of which is its implications for my yet-to-be-written-and-illustrated comic, “The Victory Streak,” and, for that matter, my entire life. I’m not kidding. Stay tuned.