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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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 (36)
DrTaJ
outstanding job, love the atmosphere!
LindaB
Stunning scene!
RubyDancingmoon
Beautiful image. Great texturing. Love it. 10/10 I have a question though. How come the sky is lighter to the left and towards the horizon and the rocks lit that way when the sun is barely visable high up in center picture? NOT a criticism here just me trying to learn about atmospheres. Thanks.
wizardofnoz
Utterly magnificient!!!! Xlt lighting, terrain, atmo, PW & composition!!!! 5+
athesdan
superb work !
BenBischop
WoW, Super ART-Work.....
Maori
Amazing and superb work!!!!
Rich2
The overlay in the foreground seems odd - but then, what the @#%$!! do I know about overlays? Looks like a nice "just for fun" image - no strong theme here - cool!
Foxfire66
The whole image is spectacular, but the "under water" rocks are the best I've ever seen!!
wholehog
Nice color and lighting! Great space shot!
Darthmagus
Cool planet!
Gunglejim
Excellent job all round, love the colors and excellent PW.
Domi48
splendides lairages!
Belladzines
fantastic - i love blue
9841007
Sweet!!!!
Buzzzzz
Really Cool Scene Mark! Excellent Depth, Composition and Postwork!
jrsaldana
love the atmo...excellent
choronr
Agree with Jay; and, it appears that you have two light sources here - not unusual for somewhere out in space. Beautiful one Mark.
fractalinda
Beautiful image, Mark. Awesome sense of scale and depth, superb lighting and a fantastic sky..and the POV, landforms and overlaid surface are excellent. Love the colors and clarity. WOW.
Gog
Incredible colours, a truly excellent scene, worth a 5 which I don't often do!
TheAnimaGemini
Outstanding landscape. Gorgeous work.
steve100
Love the colours, well done.
jtag
Outstanding scene! Super colours!
prutzworks
cool coloring and I like that water
artgum
A beautiful blue composition!
Dotthy
fantastic light and composition!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dixiem47
This is going right into my Favorites everything here is just wonderful.
barticus
Just ....beautiful!
superza
love the atmo and colours!
HeikoH
Excellent render and perfect pw!! :-)