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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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.Â
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 (20)
Maori
This is SUPERB work my friend!!! (as always) :) Beautiful colors and work!!!!
artgum
A clever terrain and cool image Mark.
choronr
Struggle is part of the steep learning curve ...the more you do, the more you learn ...keep them coming grasshopper!
Fahrenheit451
Very cool!
Darthmagus
Splendid!
carlx
Fantastic terrain, surfaces and amazing atmo!!! Awesome view!!! Bravo!!!
superza
Great render!! Very nice colour and ter!
Petra-S
Woe..genial Creation! Beneidenswert sche Gestaltung!
Bleurelatif
Nice sci-fi pic !!
mamabobbijo
Triple A! Amazing Astounding Awesome! I love the contrast! Sorry you're having trouble, I too have computer problems but my son usually fixes them by plugging the i-net connection back in! I'm sure yours are much worse. I hope you get them hammered out, without of course resorting to a hammer! LOL! Thanks This is incredible! BJ
cole4965
Wow!!! That's incredible! Beautiful image!!!
kanzler
Your progress with tg2 is great!Wonderful atmo. The planet is fantastic!!!
Kosmicman
Suuuuper, suuuper, suuuper, perfekt Colors!!!
Tiwiwine
Impressive !
shantay
Beautiful alien landscape, love the haze and the planet. Awesome sky!
ppetersen
Mark, this is simply amazing.... One can feel the intesity of the suns or sun... the terrain is in stark contrast and creates a beauty to the sky. Excellent render.
emailandthings
what an alien land :) Hey you should do the landscape and I should do the postwork :P
pixeltek
Fantastic image. Several billions of years past, the Moon still glowing from massive impacts with the maria still liquid. What a vision!
Savage_dragon
Kinda' looks like where I live, actually. Gotta' love the desert. Amazing work! ")
Risus
Your work is just so consistently breathtaking. I don't think I've seen a single image by you that isn't some sort of fantastic.