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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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 (31)
choronr
Love it! BTW, the Japanese prefer the spelling be 'bonsai' not capitalizing the word. Why? I do not know. This I learned while practicing the culture of the art over a ten year period and was taught by John Nakamura. You should try it; like TG, it is addictive. You've done very well here Mark; and, I sure would like to see more of it.
Naneth36
Zen with a little something of magic in the light : wonderful ! Please, do not hesitate : it will be a pleasure to see more.
lyron
Fantastic work!!
prutzworks
cool MEGAtree, reminds me to a novel I thought it was by Jack Vance where tree's formed entire cities
Prematos
Brilliant
Amethystwolf
Fantastic landscape, love the tree!
bloodnok
Really nice work,Mark. Your foreground, especially given the bonsai main element, makes me think of flooded padi rather than patio. Since your tree works so well here, please gives us more.
RetroDevil
very nice.. very different but its still just as impressive :D
ialora
Wow! Looks great! I just love the tree!
DAVER2112
Cool scene!!
artgum
An excellent new "branch" of your creative talents! Follow it.
DeathTwister
Well now, that is different bro, and very cool coming up with that idea. Fun fun /smiles.
thecytron
Beautiful scene!
Porthos
Now that's why I enjoy viewing your work, you have a wonderful imagination - beautifully done!
kasalin
Spectacular work, Mark !!! Like the coloured path, the tree, the planet, everything !!! This will be a favourite for Bob, for he is well known with bonsais !!
mikeerson
I'm glad I said something... Now this is what I call life on one of your planets! YOU HAVE BEEN FAVORITIZED!!!
lumi
wonderful and interesting render!
scifibabe
Very cool scene. Love the tree. It works really well within this composition. Excellent textures and colors too. Nicely done!
BenBischop
Awesomely Done....!!!!
Thelby
You should try it in TG2.
tetsu-pino
Splendid "tree" and fantastic scene!! Excellent creative work!!!
X-PaX
Very nice image. I like your bonsai and the nice stone texture. Well done.
capitanpescanova
Absolutely nice and original. A pleasure to see!!!
shantay
Love your postworked tree, Mark ;-)
twistednoodle
Yep I love it!!! You know how I love to add stuff to piccies? Well in CS2 there's a function that allows you match colour. It compares one picture with another and changes the lightness values etc and changes one piccy to match the other it is really a great tool. Invaluable if you are trying to one element of a picture into another. Let me know if you'd like me to "match" some stuff for you if you don't have access to CS2 - might make it easier to add images to TG ......... I love this picture - the lighting is magnificent!!
webwings
I like the brick texture.
ppetersen
Last lonely tree at the end of the world. That's what popped into my head here Mark. I love how you've incorporated the treee, your reflections of light on it is perfect. OUtstanding work.
mamabobbijo
When they are this gorgeous they don't need a forest! Perhaps it's sentient and the governor of this amazing space!
KatesFriend
This brings back memories of the computer game 'Riven'.
Mousson
Creative and original creation, great art...