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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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 (29)
Coppens
Splendid work and arguably your finest!
Igolochka
Fantastic scenery, like it!
yorek
Splendid place for vacation ! So realistic, it's an enchanting landscape ! Great job !
amapitodd
Fantastic rendering of the Red Planet. Great job! 5++++
DarkStormCrow
Excellent!
kasalin
Very beautiful... an eyecatcher....
Savage_dragon
I like this new twist. Very nicely done, Mark! ")
DeathTwister
Very nice my brother, and very well done.
mikeerson
They found water on Mars, it just seems they landed in an area in the middle of the desert... Wouldn't it be funny is 20 years from now they find a city and say theirs been life on mars forever, we just didn't know about it - lol
Darkwish
You did very nice work!
choronr
You've got the colors and light just right. I'm not sure that the moons, Deimos and Phobos are of a round shape.
Porthos
Love the atmo in this, a fine image!
me109
Cool terrain and light!
artgum
Awesome terrain- I must upgrade to the new version. This is a perfectly balanced piece.
NefariousDrO
Hoo, that is spectacular great work on this, especially the creative use of actual elevation data from Mars!
grafikeer
Very well done...excellent terrain work and great lighting and post effects!!
scifibabe
Gorgeous work - great terrain and texture. Beautiful sky - great lighting and dust clouds. Well done!
tetsu-pino
Very beautiful color and composition!! Splendid work!!!
prutzworks
fully agree with Bob and I think also the size of the moon is to big, P& D are captured astroids
Rich2
Aw, heck, Martin - Mark puts on his interpretive spin as an artform. We scientists will just have to let it slide... Dang - it almost looks like some of my stuff - !
RGUS
Never been there yet.. but this is as close as to what I imagine it to be like... perfect red dusty atmosphere!
capitanpescanova
Outstanding atmosphere, light and everything!!!
KatesFriend
Beautiful speculative scene. Could Mars have had such a moon eons ago?
bcbc
nice image
Art_Ramos
Another great render -- I am humbled in genuflection!
ppetersen
Chuckling, great job here Mark!!!! can't breathe for the matian atmos. Perfectly done!!!!
dvab
Bravo!
faroutsider
Wow! Magnificent Martian vista.
ISSE
Really beautiful done