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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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 (64)
Mondwin
Looks really fantastic!!!!Great done!!bravo!V:DDD
blacq_nyght_vampyre
WOW! I really love this. The birds add so much to this. The water looks like it is moving!!
Kosmicman
Absolutly excellent!!!! Supergreat work!!
Toxxic
Holy sh**...VOTE for a tutorial =))
Ionel
Excellent! Very well done!!! :)
Darthmagus
Wonderful painting! Bravo!
Maori
Incredibly beautiful and most excellent work!!!
leanndra
OMG! blacq nyght vampyre sent me your link! I am so glad she did! I just started trying to figure Terragen out, and this wonderful art of yours will definately help keep my interest high! This is without a doubt one of the best terragen images I have ever seen! It looks like a photo! The depth is wonderful and the scope of the image is amazing!
chimera46
Excellent image! well done!
athesdan
excellent work Markal !!
Lledeline
All is fantastic. POV, textures, terrrain, composition !!
Thelby
What can I say, I am in AWE, In Shock, Shock and Awe!!! It really is explosive, WOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!!!!!! My first ever Quintriple Excellent!!!!!
Dotthy
perfect in all details :)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
galaxyoflive
Absolutly excellent!!!!
Saurav
Great stuff, I like the POV and the paint effect.
DIANE603
Amazing postwork!!
wholehog
Really excellent postwork in this! Fantastic scene setup in every way. Very nice work!!
MoppelundWilli
Splendid waterfall-PW!!! Bravo Markal!
azrabella
Ok, Mark... I get the message.
lazydog
Outstanding in all respects! You've really captured the flow of water in those falls and I love the painted look to this piece.
nitnatsnok
Bravo. excellent. it is made by master.
ppetersen
In awe, sitting here with my mouth open... this is beyond words Mark... you've not only outdone yourself, but you've definitely created a wonderful world where one could get lost in it's beauty!!!!! outstanding surfacing, water settings an POV ... those falls are the best I've ever seen... and ones' that everyone should aim for. Outstanding in all respects... I bow to the master!!!!
Dixiem47
This is just so wonderful I have never seen anything like this in terragen before Outstanding Mark.
blonderella
magnificent, simply magnificent Mark...in every aspect!
Orestes
Excellent work, awsome postwork on the falls!!
Buzzzzz
Falls Are Awesome Mark!
cajomi
fantastic pw
Morgana61
Ma che splendore....bravissimo! Fantastic work!
Micter
Nice work. The water is a bit too transparent imho, and the surface a bit "confuse", but the postwork is really well-done.
twistednoodle
I want to know how you did this! It is just fanbloodyamazing! Different levels of water ... wonderful!! I think the best bit is the postwork in the falls - use of a bit of brown on the edges of the falling water adds mightily to the realism, love the mist and postwork birds too. Nice touch having the birds increase in size as they come out of the spume. I LOVE IT!!