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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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 (40)
emailandthings
Bravo! very interesting lighting..
KatesFriend
Beautiful scene.
DanteDAnthony
Like....Arizona interstate. Way out there away from everything. Pull your car off the side of the road. Turn off the lights. Sit for a few minutes and let your eyes adjust. There can be no other cars for a while. Just you and the night-this image captures that. The desert at night-very cosmic. I recommend it for anyone who has never been to a desert-do it. Amazing image!!!
scifibabe
Stunning! Amazing! Mind boggling! Love it. This picture is really great - great textures, great lighting, great starry sky. I just love this! Bravo!
choronr
Another striking picture by you ...and, yes, like an Arizona night.
Rich2
Super - just that. I like the full terrain view - and even the fully PWed sky - being the purist I am. This is you at your best - !
nosawayne
Gorgeous!
DarkStormCrow
Excellent!
mikeerson
The path to the darkside... feel the force? Most definately.
fractalinda
Fantastic and beautiful! Love the sky show. Outstanding work!
neo_primal
cool
azrabella
This stuff gets better and better.
carlx
Gorgeous!!!
Darkwish
Fantastic work! Very well done!
knigth
Fantastic, sublime composition. Beautiful harmony between the clear and the dark, the light and the shadows. Excellent choice of textures, a magnificent background, very big art. Congratulation.
faroutsider
Stunning work - another instant classic. But please don't leave me here, water supplies are critically low...!
DMoulton
This is wonderful art love everything about this one.
DeathTwister
Wow stunning bro
AndyWelder
What can I say? Rich said it all!
tetsu-pino
Very beautiful image!!!
Petra-S
super sky,effect and textur!
stbc
I agree with Rich. Your best style. The lighting is super, too.
Savage_dragon
Outdid yourself, Mark. One of my favs from ya'. ")
artgum
Outstanding atmosphere, mood and lighting.
NefariousDrO
Very very cool! That landscape is fantastic. Only one minor thing to me is that the light on the landscape seems to be a different angle from the moon's. It looks awesome, though!
RGUS
Really fabulous perspective in this... great alignment!
Porthos
I love your terrains, excellent artwork!
superza
Very cool scene! a Markal Classic!
capitanpescanova
Seeing the picture and reading the comments I'd like to see an Arizona night
prutzworks
5 star