Who is 'Markal'?
Markal is Mark Edwards who lives in Mississippi – originally from Indianapolis, Indiana. I retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2003 after 23 years and decided to stay here in the warm gulf coast south along with my wife, two daughters and three grandchildren.
How long have you been rendering/doing computer graphics?
My last five years in the Air Force I designed and developed computer-based training. We used PhotoShop, Flash and even wrote code in HTML, so I guess I started in the late 90’s. My terragen work began in 2003.
Do you have traditional art experience?
No real art experience just the standard art classes in high school and college.
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What are you currently working on?
I’m working on a collaboration with a Bryce artist…he is making a ship for one of my space landscape images. Learning Terragen 2 and possibly Vue may be in the works soon.
What software/equipment do you use and why?
Software used is Terragen .9.43, PaintShopPro 7 and LunarCell. I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP. I was going to upgrade but, this very large screen HDTV deal fell into my lap so I had to upgrade my other love…. watching Blue-Ray movies…first. Hopefully I’ll upgrade to a quad 4 before the end of the year.
What do you think your best piece of work is and why?
One of my latest favorites is Rigel III. The foreground is a stone BMP overlay I applied in Terragen…. the shading and shadows were in-line with the sun angle and it worked very well. The only post work was the LunarCell moons and I think they also add a realistic touch. It still amazes me how computer graphics can make an imaginary place look so real and believable.
Why do you like to work with 3D software?
It’s a fun hobby for me and when I focus on the work it carries me away from the hustle and worries of this world.ÂÂ
Who/what inspires you?
All the wonderful artists here at ReRo are great inspirations. National Geographic Magazine, NASA and all the space missions has also influenced and inspired me. Of course our creator….Almighty God….the greatest artist of all.
How has this online community (Renderosity) enhanced your work, relationships, and learning?
Not only comments but also other artists sharing their files have helped me grow artistically by leaps and bounds.
Parting Comments / Advice to other Artists?
I try to focus on what I love. I have a passion for Space Art so 99% of my work is Space art. Some may think I need to branch out and explore other areas but I say branch out to what….something I don’t love? Go with what you love and your rewards will be many.
Comments (43)
langolea
very beautiful...
meatpuppet76
excellent work!
Orestes
Great space art Mark! Overlays and water look super!
Afrodite
Oooh, Im impressed!! Im glad Im not uploading today..this is soooo good!! Perfection at work, a masterpiece!!
Kosmicman
Great Scenerie!
eryt
Terragen was my first experience in digital art..and this is absolutely one of the very best images I have ever seen...makes me want to open it up again and get better with it! superb! **VVV
Costaud
Awesome image, all is perfect.
jcruz
Splendid!!!!
CATMANDO
Excellent scene. You did a great job with your terrain, POV, surfaces and sky.
Visualist
excellent! Feel like I'm there
blacq_nyght_vampyre
Whoa!!!!!!!! This is so awesomely wonderful!!
Atomsplitter
Excellent :)
artgum
Excellent scene! I love the sky. A true classic of sci fi movies- but Forbidden Planet is still my fav. Keep'em coming Mark.
Gunglejim
Awesome image!!!
ppetersen
Amazing space art... totally awesome. Beautiful atmosphere, surfacing is beyond words... just gorgeous... WOW....
Rich2
As a kid I loved those old sci-fi flicks - as this reflects: a nice kick-back to those days!
fractalinda
Very cool terrain, superb surface work and excellent postwork. Perfect lighting. An awesome and outstanding piece of sci-fi art.
Darthmagus
Excellent combination ! Nice water!
gradient
one of your best, methinks!...xlt light, water, overlays and postwork!
Martchi
Wonderful terragen work,Excellent Pw ,Bravo !
superior
Very beautiful space art !!! Xlt for me ;)
shantay
Awesome spacevision!
lazydog
Outstanding!
Jordano
Agree with gradient!
blonderella
holy cosmic collision Batman! what an awesome image Mark, I agree with Gradient also...superb work!
redawg2
Marvelous sci-fi Mark!
space-traveller
Absolute stunning total composition, it really looks like from another planet.
marcoantonio
Eerie and beautiful! Fantastic surfaces, colors, mood and PW!
doneydonydone
cant say much more than magnificent! - postwork is spectacluar - cant see anything wrong! colourscheme and lighting is amazing!!!!
inkydigit
not somewhere you'd want to go swimming...still very excellent!!:D