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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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 (31)
VEDES
VERY NICE WORK!!!
Badsue
The Hubble image and your- as always - beautiful terrain make a really nice composition. I like how the terrain opens up to the background and leads the view to the stars. More than just "ok"! :)
KnightWolverine
Wonderful image too end my night here in the galleries...
odile
Beautiful!
wilhelm2
Beautiful scene and work!
Josel007
Excellent!!!
Chaosphoto
Sweet, I wish we had that view. Then again maybe it wouldn't be too healthy :)
peedy
Fantastic image! Great terrain; water and sky. Corrie
shayhurs
Very nicely done!
artgum
Super! Love the water and reflections; the foreground rocks are very cool too.
pit224
Excellent work! Beautiful colors!
SIGMAWORLD
Beautiful scene. Well done!
masonspappy
Well done!
claudia02
Klasse Bild !
jhmart1
This is a phenomenal piece! Congratulations!
choronr
I like this, especially because one can see a nighttime sky is daylight - and, yes, I read somewhere where this is possible based on the makeup of a planet's atmosphere ...great work Mark.
X-PaX
Very nice work Mark. I like the terrain and the background image fits perfect. Well done.
faroutsider
Stunning image, Mark!
starfire777
Wow!!1 This is fantastic. The Hubble image really adds to the scene.
shingleboot
Very beautiful scene
Danny_G
Classic Markal
Alex_NIKO
Fantastic place and beautiful composition.. agree with Danny.. it is your inimitable style!!
LindaMcC
Fantasmagorical! An awesome composition, Mark, and excellent work.
Naoo
Cool SF-Mood!
wotan
The good & old TG0.9, much better than TG2... IMHO!
Wonderland
Beautiful! I want to visit there!
LightDrop
I think it's simply gorgeous! Aside the TGish shore nobody would think that's TG 0.9.
FloydianSlip
Your work is always amazing. :)
Savage_dragon
Kewl! ")
RJS
Love the way you have melded your foreground image to the Hubble image. Nicely done! I wonder, though - if you could see the remnants of a supernova that clearly in the night sky, wouldn't the radiation pulse from the initial explosion have pretty much sterilized your planet? Then again, you show the landscape as being totally barren, so I guess you have that angle covered...