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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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.
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Comments (37)
beatoangelico
fantastic scene and tone colors...excellent render...well done..!!!
crocodilian
Its a great scene. From a critical perspective, when I look at the full scale image, the Terragen render doesn't match the resolution of the background plate. The Terragen render is super-sharp, and the background plate is more than a little murky, in a JPEG compression artifact way. Its a small thing, but these details make a comp "hang together". Adding a little haze in Terragen helps a lot with this.
mikeerson
I don't give men kisses - lol... how long did you stair at the moon for it to grow on you??? My moon still looks the same, I didn't want it to get any bigger... I hope you can still fit in your pants - lol... yep, you gotta watch what you say around me - lol... next upload, you'll have to tell me how many men you've kissed - lol IMAGE LOOKS GREAT. YOU HAVE BEEN FAVORITIZED!!!
Savage_dragon
To me the sky/stars look as if you made them bigger/stretched. I think that's what crocodilian means, so they have lost some resolution. But it only shows in one corner of the sky. I dunno', add a little cloud/haze there with Flaming Pear Cumulus? (If you want it, I have it. Hard to find.)But for the terrain & its settings, I really like how this came out. I like that you are getting away from the norm & trying new things. I also love everything about this terrain, surface water... no, no gushing, I really do think its an outstanding image. & I like the moon, too. So there. Oh, & here's the hug N kiss XO.... just in case! ")
geirla
I really like the clear water in this image. The moon looks pretty nice to me -- more like a planet with all that blue. The few clouds right in the middle of the image are a little bit jarring, though.
KatesFriend
A very spectacular vista!
pops
This is awesome xoxoxox.....lol
artgum
I love the terrain; the lower POV accentuates perfect water here.
ppetersen
First hugs :) lol second... The sky is beautiful, but have to agree with the left side from my view, it does show too many stars??? Doesn't quite match the right side, but then the sky does that sometimes. The colors are superb, that's what always catches my eye with your works, the color pallette. The terrain is to die for. Yes I can see all sort of possibilites and thoughts with this. AMazing shapes you've got going on here. The huge mount on the right side has almost a sphinx like look to it, as if it's been worn away. Superb water and overlays, while I may be the 'avian' queen as you dubbed me so long ago, you are most assurely the overlay king!!! So yeah I love this one too, and if I had to give it points (out of 10) I'd say it was a 9.95 -- allowing a deduction for that starfield on the left :)
choronr
Now I know you must have played marbles when you were (maybe still are) a little kid; and, this is in commemoration of your green 'Aggie'. Truthfully, this is inspirational space work!
Kattey
I just like that picture! hugs
Revelation-23
I like it. Before I move on, I warn you, no hugs and/or kisses. Sorry. The only thing that comes to mind with the starfield is how much there is. To my eyes, it seems a bit too densely populated. Sure, it's a real image of somewhere out in space, but I don't think it works as well as a less populous one might. And someone else mentioned the pack of clouds in the distance. And for a moon that big and/or close, I'd think the water would be higher. You know, tides and such. Or maybe this is high tide? No hugs or kisses, but... Will some pizza crust do?
Killebrew
Just gorgeous!
Naoo
Lovely SF-Mood!!!
azrabella
I honestly am no good at critiques... but hugs and kisses anyway - er, in a manly way, of course. I can remember green Aggies, too.
lyron
Fantastic work!!
allisonbender
Stuning and captivating work!!! tom
MagikUnicorn
LOVE THIS, VERY NICE ART (If you have some tips...for terragen atmo, send me chief) ;-)
faroutsider
I'm captivated by the terrain and water - marvelous! I do find the sky a little too low-res, but there's enough detail down below to keep my attention.
X-PaX
Very nice work Mark. But I agree with the others regarding the sky. The terragen work is very sharp and the textures are great (as always) but the sky shows some unlikely artefacts, so maybe you could apply a soft gaussian blur to it? For me the moon looks great.
amapitodd
Great colors and composition and design.
BrideofCthulhu
nice!
Dotthy
awesome work, with much power. It is my favorite colour!!!!!
Lissy
About the sky I can say what they all told you ;) But about the terrain, surface, water and underwater surface I can only say excellent! A hug and a kiss for a nice weekend ;)
BenBischop
Amazing Scene....!!!!
scifibabe
I just love this image despite what the others say. I love it just the way it is. Great stars and wonderful terrain. Love that big ol' moon too. Fabulous work!
DeathTwister
Holly Cow Awesome dude
NefariousDrO
Very beautiful scene. Breath-taking, even! What I'm especially impressed with are the little details you have here, like the reflection of the moon in the water. Absolutely fantastic!
kasalin
A dream... a miracle... a masterwork... a favourite of me!!!
gradient
Awesome space scene...esp like the foreground u/w textures....and you know I'm not just saying that to yank your chain!