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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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 (43)
DreamlandModels
I like this image very much! Very creative! Tom
shayhurs
Very cool; Outstanding work as usual...
geirla
Cool moons!
J5ive
Very cool!!!
choronr
SciFi book cover worthy; excellent quality here. And, a great combination of terrain, water (or alien liquid), including striking light.
peedy
Fantastic image! Beautiful lighting. Corrie
odile
Beautiful space scene!
Naoo
EXCELLENT! Realy strange! I like the Rings!
mikeerson
cool
Dotthy
Awesome work!!!!!!!!!
Hubert
Great Space scene!
masonspappy
The realism is quite good!!
jclP
Outstanding work
faroutsider
Excellent moonscape.
Haydaad
Outstanding space scene.
thecytron
Awesome place!
Danny_G
Excellent work Mark !
alessimarco
Marvelous scene!!
LindaMcC
Waay cool space scene! And your work is excellent.
scifibabe
Wonderful to see new work from you! Love your space scene. Amazing scene! Really realistic.
claudia02
Klasse Arbeit ! Profi Postwork ! Weiter so machen ;-)
azrabella
Well, I thought Ihad seen the best of your work...until now. Super space art. Don't know what quadrant of what galaxy you've gotten to, but I want to see more of this.
Alex_NIKO
Very beautiful planetscape.. great work!
TerraCr8tor
FANTASTIC LANDSCAPE, GREAT PLANETS
philiplopezjr
You out-did yourself on this one. Fav.
NefariousDrO
Holy cow this is fantastic! Of course you know I'd love that landscape, but that sky is amazing! Really great stuff here.
grafikeer
Wow...very well done,love the lighting and mood in this!
Chaosphoto
I can almost reach out and touch that moon !!!. Very very nice
WeeLaddie
Whoa, that's huge, Mark, and the lighting is excellent. Super integration too.
ialora
Wow! This looks amazing. I particularly like that ring of planets.