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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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)
Risus
I love it. I think the Hubble background is a bit strong at points, but I also think it makes it look really beautiful. The lighting over the mountains and snow is just lovely.
Kattey
It looks like a stairway to winter :) Thank you very much for your work!
scifibabe
Ooooo, lovely lighting and shadows. Beautiful colors and stars. Great effect with the background. Nicely done!
OrphanedSoul
Totally gorgeous!
bobbystahr
Great stuff...nice integration of the Hubble image...they are the best aren't they. Fine control of TG .9.43...hat's off t'you mate.. ...
geirla
Very nice and realistic! Looks great.
Rich2
Somewhere in our galaxy, there may be a vista just as this. And not to be too critical, it looks great sans planets. Don't fret the lack of comments, Mark. That part has been somewhat anemic here since the advent of TG2.
Savage_dragon
It has the feel of a cosmic woolly mammoth. Beautiful, Mark! ")
NefariousDrO
Hubble does give some amazing images. But how you've lit your terrain really works that hubble background very effectively. Nice work.
leoshades
That is some keen scenery...
artgum
I think it's a beautiful combo- it struck me as the perfect Christmas background.
choronr
Not only the composition, but also the light show here makes this one marvelous picture.
twistednoodle
Yeah exactly what Bob said!
Domi48
Splendide!
d51
Fantastic scene, excellent!
odile
Strange and very beautiful
wholehog
Great addition with the sky, nice space shot!
mikeerson
eXCELLent... xcell - energetic picture.
janedj
Gorgeous imge and work!!!!Hugs Jane
neo_primal
a beauty, i love it, thanks
thecytron
Nice work!
Art_Ramos
Beautiful -- all the elements work well together!
Alex_NIKO
Cool work!
furuta
How beautiful. great image!!
ragouc
Superb....
azrabella
Agree with NefariousDrO - you have made this type of image quite your own - ever since the Rigel series - but that was in another part of the Galaxy. Nice one Mark.
me109
cool set of colors for the surface!
faroutsider
Fabulous image...!
prutzworks
Rich said it
X-PaX
Very nice image Mark. It would be also a good fantasy image eg. by adding a fantasy figure (maybe a Dragon) in the foreground. Hmm, I'm missing your nice planets here ;)