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.
ÂÂ
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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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 (34)
MirageBay
What a beautiful image! Lighting and detail are great:)
RGUS
Magnificent.. and if it weren't for your words.. I may have thought something else.. but you are right... this is the perfect title... why can't an artwork have a sentence, a paragraph.. a feeling... it contibutes so much to what you want to say... mate... awesome... all of it!
Chipka
This is a stunning piece of art, rendered exquisitely touching by your words. Image and words together seem to form a larger mythic whole with holds together wonderfully! Fantastic work!
Savage_dragon
Um.... ... I'm speechless. WOW!!! Now, that's impressive, Mark! ")
watteville
very interesting!
maraich
I've never seen anything like this before. Really a pleasure to look at. I love the combination of textures, lighting and shadows.
Petra-S
Beeindruckend! Genial POV and light/effect!
janedj
Fantastic artwor and beautiful golden colors!!!!Hugs Jane
OrphanedSoul
Very incredible image!
DeathTwister
Wow
kuerbote
I like it a lot. Light and textures combined make this very attractive to the eye.
thecytron
Xcellent rendering!
UWN
lovely image.
emailandthings
Outstanding.. simply outstanding... what a terrain... just wow!
me109
I really like the lighting and terrain!
fractalinda
AWEsome!!
artgum
Outstanding Mark!
kanzler
Fantastic light and pov!Beautiful work!
Rich2
Great POV & use of "zoom" effect, Mark! Doesn't everyone do the wrong thing now and then? Hopefully, it is more then than now...
choronr
Like stacks of ancient gold pieces found at the bottom of the sea ...gorgeous work and writing!
inkydigit
without darkness there could be no light, without sorrow there could be no happiness....beautiful words and image...no wrong doing here! keep it up Mark! cheers J
gradient
Awesome work here Mark....esp like the water and the rays of course! TG 0.9XX....hmmm....maybe there is some life in the old TG corpse yet...perhaps I'll have to fire that sucker up again one of these days....
prutzworks
xlt pov & lighting
Tiwiwine
A superb creation !
Dotthy
wonderful done, it goes to my fav!
Rutra
Beautiful. Excellent.
twistednoodle
Love this esp the pov! Nice terrain great surfacing!! Live and learn by mistakes, to not learn in unforgivable ......... I think you're safe .......
dashboard_jehovah
Thought it had coins in the pool..till I got a closer look! Awesome terrain and image ...first impulse on viewing was a wishing well.
1402dandoy
Wonderful!
webwings
Love the POV.