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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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 (27)
atsoram
Great Photoshop work!!!!
wrpspeed
excellent picture
alltheoriginalnames
This is awesome man, like straight out of a sci-fi movie. Very cool and very well done
mikeerson
spacetackulass.
odile
Well done!!
LinaraTar
wow! fantastic work!
azrabella
Inspirational work, Mark. ***** from me.
artgum
Mark, this is one of the best images you've ever done; ship it off to Sci Fi Weekly immediately!! Top notch.
janedj
This is Amazing!!!Hugs Jane
faroutsider
Fabulous image. Great stuff!
Waver88
Great composition...well done.
KatesFriend
Gasp! Excellent vision.
Rich2
You keep on thinking of a way of bringing the otherworldly into view - no exception here, and never stop - !
OrphanedSoul
A very beautiful image!
Coppens
Marvelously detailed! Splendid work! Keep it up!
DeathTwister
TG2? it looks like that would be very hard to do in reg TG, even with post Photoshop work to it.
Petra-S
wonderful images and PV, colors, genial Textur, light and artwork!
Savage_dragon
Hey, great combo! Keeps ya' staring for a while in awe. Sweet work, Mark! ")
me109
very beautiful terrain and surface. Would love to see it, with a sky, that is as sharp as the terrain.
thecytron
Awesome rendering work! Stunning colors!
wholehog
Love the planet surface!
gerberc
Stunning SciFi!
mamabobbijo
Looks like the inner side of a ring. Very cool!
shantay
Splendid planet!
Chipka
Astounding quality! I love the realistic sense of color and lighting, especially in regard to the galactic dust lanes in the distance and the planetary texture. Fantastic work!
Kosmicman
great!!!
Naoo
Another great image!