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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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 (30)
stick
Great scene. Love the two moons. A desolate place, naked of any plant life.
Savage_dragon
I like the ribbon clouds. & its like I can almost feel that silty, salty sand between my toes. Though, I think this is not a place to go shoeless. I like it! Just don't go there hungry. You can starve in a place like that. ")
geirla
Very nice! I like the sandy "dried up river" look.
Ken _Gilliland
Nicely done!
artgum
Love the terrain and scale!
scifibabe
Not sure if it's Tatooine - I seem to recall that the sky was more orangish. But maybe I'm wrong - the two moons are there and the sandy landscape is awesome. In any case, I really like this one and it's a great pic. Fav for me.
pwilkin
Great scene!
AzzViper
Use the FORK Luke??? So is this after "A New Hope" in your reference to time-line? Just how long after Star Wars is this. I'm confused by most things Star Wars. Good Scene, that's not confusing.
Ridley5
Fantastic alien landscape! Well done!
choronr
Quality is triple plus; and, you surface work is second to none!
NefariousDrO
I'm so amazed at the stuff you can do with Terragen. I dabbled with it, but you've really learned how to work incredible scenes with it. Absolutely fantastic piece.
mikeerson
Yoda said use the fork when luke went into the cave while training, right? He wanted him to eat Dark Vapor??? LOL I like this image, would love to see you push yourself on the one you're having trouble with... Those are the ones that we say ok... I did it and move on... when we see them later we're still satisfied, but now something clicks and we can make the image that much better.
DreamersWish
What a strange and rustic looking landscape! Fabulous work!
DarkStormCrow
Excellent work and image, well done...
WeeLaddie
That's a good one Mark (understand that "good" is relative, and your "good" is sub 10 seconds in 100 metre sprint terms). Lots of interesting features and great surface work including excellent overlays. One wee tweak that would give this scene that extra bit of spit and polish would be to fill in that edge-of-the-world bit on the left of the horizon, perhaps with a bit of post cut & paste.
bloodnok
Splendid scape. You really do excel at this work.
SIGMAWORLD
Very nice scene!
X-PaX
Fantastic work Mark.
CATMANDO
Nice work
shantay
Wonderful, love the round towers!
Danny_G
Surfacing is amazing, very inspiring is piece is
Rich2
Lots of things that can still be tweaked out of TG Classic, as you clearly show. I like the dunes overlay: really sets this off! Now, young Luke - when you can snatch the pebbles from my hand... Dammit - I've got my movies crossed somewhere - !
lumi
womderful sky colors, and very interesting land forms! congratulations!
gr8lykr
Great job
ppetersen
Sweet terrain Mark, has so much that I c an see within it. Love the shapes and forms. Surfacing as always is superb, even the wavey sands... fit just right. Atmosphere is a beauty here again fits just right... excellent work.
LindaMcC
WOW. I should say! Have you been hired yet?! One of your best, and that's really saying something. Outstanding!
Chaosphoto
such a great image I am booking my flight there now lol
claudia02
Klasse Welt :-)
prutzworks
great terrain & surface and I like the turquois sky gradient
Rutra
I like the terrain work here.