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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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 (35)
artgum
Excellent image- if you replaced the bats with fish, this could almost be an underwater scene.
mikeerson
I was going to say: "this looks familiar" lol... You hate bats? I killed one last year in my Mother's cabin. Was foaming the outside of a window when it came flying out. It wouldn't leave the area and I had hours of work to perform where it wanted to go back - I had to get rid of it - Yeah, I killed batman and I'm a joker too - lol
geirla
Great image! Sort of looks like Machu Picchu in a way.
DarkStormCrow
Excellent!
choronr
A striking point of view; and, of the highest quality. Love the lighting.
KatesFriend
Fantastic with a powerful perspective that nearly gives me vertigo.
Chaosphoto
Outlandishly nice :)
Maori
Superb POV and fantastic depth! A real winner!! Bravo, Mark!
ialora
Wow! That's one heck of a view! And the birds are a really good touch to the overall image.
Lehrlings-Gehilfe
Great image, super lightning!
kasalin
Yes, indeed a striking POV..... super terrain and surface !!!!!!!!!!!! Wonderful light !!!!!!!!!!!
lumi
cool scene, great lighting!
Porthos
Splendid work, excellent POV and a pleasure to view!
neo_primal
cool
Petra-S
super POV, light and mood!
Domi48
Remarquable.
bloodnok
Wonderful image; such depth and lighting. It lives
DeathTwister
Sweet sweet sweet wonder how long it took to play with the clouds to get that one I wonder, wow nice work.
Thelby
Kinda has a Machu-Picchu feel to it, you know!!! Nice work!!!
scifibabe
Excellent POV. Love the vibrant colors in this. The bats are a great touch. Really lovely work.
faroutsider
Wonderfully alien yet familiar.
amapitodd
What faroutsider said. Excellent work.
LBJ2
Very cool work. Fantastic composition..Love the POV. Beautiful and original. And the light on this is a masterpiece..+5
BenBischop
Amazingly Cool....luv the bats....;)
ppetersen
Mark, I'm speechless. The pov is out of this world. There's a surreal feel to the entire image, maybe because of the angle, or the misty look to it, but I find it totally amazing... this is a beauty !!!!!
fuzzoom
Wonderful POV and lighting. Lots of interesting details in the terrain.
WeeLaddie
Love the dramatic pov. Excellent use of light and haze. And brilliant surface overlaying. A stunning result.
shingleboot
Wonderful lighting, exciting POV.
azrabella
Only you could have produced this beauty. I think this is as good as anything you have done with Ashkelon, but no doubt you'll knock out something even better next time (like you always do!). It's a 5 from me then.
capitanpescanova
fabulous and fascinating. A favorite!