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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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 (29)
dogmanblues
very nice ,love the theam
Maori
Incredible scene!!! Great imagination at work!!! Super cool and excellent work, Mark!!! V
Dixiem47
Mark,This one is going into my favorites for sure. OUTSTANDING!! work.
plongobardi
excellent reflection of the planet. great work!
abreojos
Pretty amazing. Back to the drawing board.
Ionel
Beautiful! Very scary US rays! lol
Belladzines
absolutely fantastic!!
twistednoodle
NICE! Love the reflection of the planet on the water! Really nice colours in this too, nice POV - great space scene.
gro-tesk
Great. Asolutly outstanding atmosphere!
TAMEZ
aaaaaaaaahhh beautiful SF landscape. felicidades.
jrsaldana
beautifulllllll...excellent work my friend
Thelby
Excellent line up of the rays with the planets shadowing!
wholehog
Nice lighting - love the colors!
Darthmagus
Great lighting!
prutzworks
cool scene, great work!
Gunglejim
Awesome sci-fi as always, great image.
Morgana61
Fantastic work!! Colori meravigliosi...
doneydonydone
amazing water on this one yet again - love the rays and planet postwork!!
Rich2
I was hoping you would not rays that subject... But supercool SF art!
korrektor
cool colors MArk! awesome compo as well!
shantay
Great space art! Love your water.
ppetersen
You did it again... stunning work on this Mark... that sky is gorgeous, the terrain, superb and the planets, iciing on this piece of work... OUtstanding...
blonderella
he..hehe..hehehe...funny guy! ;)~ L absolutely gorgeous render Mark, I can't tell you how beautiful it is...magnificent rays, water, colors, etc!!
joshus_hund
Agree with Karen. I especially like the water/underwater. Cool scene! ;-)
gradient
You know I'm a sucker for rays...love em...cool water too!
blacq_nyght_vampyre
WOW This is so cool!! Love that water... the reflections are perfect.
morin3000
I like to return on your gallery !!!!! It is a wonder and an inspiration !!!!! Hope that you liked my comments !!!!! Another excelling image !!!!! V***
corleonis
Gorgeous shadows and race! or maybe they are raise! raze? ;)....really nice planet too, only i wish it was a little sharper
wizardofnoz
The water, lighting, & the PW are simply superb