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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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)
Orestes
Nice one Mark! Very alien this one is! Excellent work :D
fractilian
The colors are great. looks like a photo.
mayPR
Great work. absolut Klasse! ;) the color ..... superb. Bravo!
Mondwin
Wunderbares... goldiges Bild!!!Prima arbeit!!bravo!V:DDD
grinagog
Thats very nice mate, keep it up, much appreciated!
Kosmicman
great colours
Dotthy
gorgeous render and work!!!!!!!!!!
athesdan
excellent work terrain, surface are beautiful and postwork is superb
Darthmagus
Superb desolate place!
Martchi
Wonderful!bravo!
christianfly
What a huge work! really excellent render.
corleonis
Wow, great work on the water, and the clouds are very dramatic, awesome work!
cphilrun
Wow and wow!!!
Ionel
Superb and realy fantastic world, work and postwork!
shantay
Spectacular sci-fi scene. Love pebbles in foreground, your golden light and your pw are awesome. V
patrick06
Spectacular terrain and amazing sky . Fanstastic picture.
ppetersen
Well, besides what everyone has already said, this is beyond Sci-Fi, spacescape extrodinaire... Excellent work Mark, from the dense gaseous atmosphere to that surface... Amazingly done.
JPSoft
I love it!
Tiwiwine
Amazing sci-fi scene, really excellent. And beautiful colors !
azrabella
A fine Sci-fi render, Mark. Tell me how you did the sky?
rhasalgheti
wow!!!!!!!!!!
stbc
Maybe your best yet. Incredible use of the overlay, too. Marvellous sci-fi work.
gradient
esp like the moon(s) and water underlay work!
blonderella
this is absolutely breathtaking Mark! the terrain, surfaces and overlays are awesome and the colours you chose, simply stunning...those fantastic planets really are the icing on the cake...magnificent work!
Simpleworks
FANTASTIC!!
Micter
The moon adds a lot to the mood !
hollishi
the pic is very very imprssive, bravo..V..
Costaud
WOW what a spectacular sci-fi scene, excelent work.
EoinArmstrong
Great surface/tex work; excellent alien atmo/colours - very well done!
doneydonydone
excellent image colours!! - nice planet - awesome foreground overlays!! v.v. crisp!! deserves a vote for the froeground surfaces alone! click