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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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.Â
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 (39)
Fidelity2
Very good. I love it. 5+.
Kattey
Nice picture :)
Naoo
Amazing Clouds!!!
tulipe
Excellent image! Great colors.
Petra-S
super sky!!!!
lyron
Excellent image!!
Dotthy
wonderful an eyechatching atmo with a fantastic planet, excellent as always!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
azrabella
Ok, Mark...another "classic" - but do tell where your "Hubble" images come from... and I don't mean from deep space :¬)
phil01
Superbe scene, bravo
shayhurs
Very nice indeed! Oh well, off to work...
Lightpen
bicely conceived
Savage_dragon
I like the textures in this one. Very nice, Mark! ")
me109
Very clever composition :)
bloodnok
Splendid
CorTezz
good stuff.
SIGMAWORLD
Excellent scene.
BrideofCthulhu
absolutely amazing.
amapitodd
Coooooooool.
mikeerson
58 people have seen this and no one faved it? this fave thing really makes me wonder from time to time. YOU HAVE (FINALLY) BEEN FAVORITIZED!!! Super job on this... It's definately in my top 3 favorites of yours!
prutzworks
agree with Angel
faroutsider
Marvelous desert scene and fabulous sky. The water is perfect!
Lissy
Super work in the sky! Fantastic rays!
artgum
Excellent use of the nova image- I really like the surfaces here too!
necrophage
awesome landscape - cool render!
BenBischop
Beautiful Scene....!!
geirla
Very nice! Looks like the water is draining from that glaring sun
choronr
Agree with Paul; a scene from a world on it's last legs. Nice one Mark!
ppetersen
You know your skies always grab me Mark. This is no exception. The addition of the Nova gives it more shades. Love the surfaces, POV and of course your terrain which also always grabs me... LOL.
fractalinda
Awesome atmosphere and surface work. Excellent, as always. :-)
RGUS
As I would imagine it to be... just before the engulfment. PERFECT!