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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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 (24)
DarkStormCrow
Excellent planetscape, well done...
MagikUnicorn
My last robot (render) are on this world...well somewhere in the Force Field Lab ;-) G O R G E O U S * W O R K
E.Houser
Great scene! Nice work.
RGUS
Incredible... i love planetscapes like these!
DeathTwister
Oh sweet one my brother. Haha I am working on some new textures for you to play with /winks, maybe next week if I get lucky to get out where I want to go this time. Wonderful work you doing. HAy guess peeps no like video game engine work, not sure they understand how hard it is to work on and make look good both in screens and in VR life rotfl, oh well, no rest for the wicked I guess. DT
artgum
Such a desolate place; rugged and chiseled against that superb sky.
Savage_dragon
Well, now, see... I would have said that was the Sombrero... go figure. Lol. Sweet work on the surface. I cam almost taste the salt. ")
DreamersWish
Fabulous TG work! Wonder if there is a place like that out there somewhere? Well done!
geirla
Great cliff faces!
shingleboot
I love the variation of shapes and textures, awesome
porsimo
Fantastic landscape! Love the sky too.
Petra-S
wonderful sky and light!
neo_primal
cool
Naoo
Cool Terrain, Colors and Background!!!
prutzworks
like the lighting
Danny_G Online Now!
Excellent all around !
X-PaX
Very nice work Mark.
BenBischop
Amazing Scene....!!!
SIGMAWORLD
Excellent Terragen scene!
Alex_NIKO
Far galaxy- good addition, very nice work!
scifibabe
Just awesome. Wonderful addition of the galazy in space. Really works with the stark barren landscape. Bravo!
mikeerson
this looks great... while looking, I couldn't help but think, none of you planets have life on them.... Why??? Trees? Humans? Aliens? ... I would love to see you explore "LIFE", it would bring your pictures to LIFE
KatesFriend
Beautiful.
ppetersen
Beautiful and classic Mark. POV, surfac ing and your signature blue.