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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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 (39)
Mazl
This looks like hell on earth!
stbc
That is a really cool idea, I love the flare! Excellent atmo for it and perfect pov/reflection. Kudos, Mark. OK, I have to say it...Where are my marshmallows? ;)
Maori
Wonderful integration and composition. So very different!! Excellent!!!
Othosmops
Very impressing and ins some respect beautiful. But agree with Mazl - don't wanna be there!
inkydigit
superb work here Mark!!!...love the flare/pw...water is good although the (sun's)reflection seems a bit too 'white'??...still minor nitpicking aside...I love this shot...keep em comimg!!:)
joshus_hund
Hey, this apo thingy in the sky is quite cool... and very fitting in a way! Great SciFi compo!
jenay
great color mood - and i like the cool web-like structures :)
Coppens
Spectacular! Excellent concept and well executed!
Morgana61
Magnifica immagine...nel cielo sembra scatenarsi pura energia. Fantastic!
olicek
beautiful idea ... fractal+terragen. I lake it.
Darthmagus
I like a lot the water! Excellent composition!
Rich2
Spacey and hot!
DigiArts
Whoa! Love the intensity of light and color and mood..and the water is superb. Awesome POV and an excellent piece of work.
Ionel
Excellent work! Interesting and very well done!!! :)
athesdan
very interesting ! excellent integration !
Dixiem47
Mark this is just outstanding work. An Excellent idea.Love the colors terrain and POV.
Chaos911
wow, looks fantastic, excellently done!!!! :=)
corleonis
Nice job Mark! great color mood and i like how the flare frames the planet, @ inkydigit - is there any way to change reflection color...?
Kosmicman
A other Idea, a great Idea, the colours are great and the work its beautiful.
PhrankPower
Excellent work! And Christine's input gives it class!
blacq_nyght_vampyre
WOW!!!!!!! I am happy this worked for you! And I am REALLY IMPRESSED!!! Very beautiful the way you did every thing!!! Thank you! Christine.
Tiwiwine
Superb and impressive !
wholehog
Whoa!! Should we get under a table or something until this passes? Very wild!! Excellent!!
lior
Very impressive artwork!
Fahrenheit451
Awesome!
ppetersen
YEahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Awesome work Mark, outstanding sky, superb feel to that terrain, the addition of the fractal sets it off perfectly!!!!! Superb work.
SusiQ
Wow.... Wow! Wow!!!!! I can say this everytime I see it! WOW!
fuzzoom
Beautiful orange/red atmosphere, and the postwork is awesome.
Buzzzzz
And you Dare call me the Orange King? LOL That Sky is Wicked Man!
Thelby
Hey Mark, this is Mark and from one Mark to another, 'Really Cool Render Dude!!' I like that 'Flare'. It looks like in the real universe when there is a magnetic field between a dieing Red or Yellow Sun and the nearest planet. Kind of sucks the planet in the Sun before it's collapse. Excellently done!!!