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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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 (41)
DarkStormCrow
Excellent work!
pwilkin
BEAUTIFUL scene!!!
DreamersWish
The terrain texture is just awesome! Marvelous world you have created. Well done!
geirla
Nice comet!
KatesFriend
Well done.
Lightpen
I feel like I am really there. Nicely done and great space feeling. Lightpen
pclavett
You are a busy person Mark dishing out these fine images....almost daily !!! This one is no exception with superb postwork ! Excellent work my friend !
grafikeer
Another fantastic image...love the comet and the lighting in this!
DanteDAnthony
Classic sci fi....
shayhurs
Another excellent image!
choronr
Spectacular! When you're ready for TG2, I know you will be turning out some real great stuff. BTW, some great things are happening there with pre-set files for rock, sand, and many other things that you can incorporate into your pictures.
Savage_dragon
What a wonderful place! I'll take two one way tickets, please! ")
poet001
Very well done!!!
BlackAngel66
Fantastic landscape! Wonderful!
prutzworks
great foreground texture
Petra-S
wonderful textur!
Minaya
Great!!! Wonderful landscape, textur and beautiful water, love it!
Alex_NIKO
Another nice shot... Wonderful landscape!
Danny_G
Excellent work !!
scifibabe
Wow - you are really creating some beautiful work here. Love your comet and the awesome terrain. Just fabulous composition and lighting.
SIGMAWORLD
Excellent!
X-PaX
Very nice terrain and fantastic surface work. Excellent work Mark.
gerberc
Fabulous image indeed!
artgum
Complete harmony in the POV and placement here. Everything guides the viewer to a new detail. Wonderful work Mark.
azrabella
You've struck a rich vein of creativity here, and long may you mine it.
mikeerson
I love the sand look in the water - cool... THEN... I noticed the streak across the sky, awesome.
ppetersen
I like the newer look of almost earth like atmosphere with planets and other Mark. It's just the right amount of scifi to satisfy and yet lends a bit of the what if ... what if we do find a planet out there... Superb terrain, pov and dang those overlays!!!!!
Chaosphoto
gorgeous landscape Markal
burlieJ
Cool Style you have with the fantasy stuff. One thing with your image though, seems there's cloud reflections on the water that don't appear in the sky? Hope you don't mind me pointing that out? Keep up the good work.
lumi
excellent render! fantastic materials!