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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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 (20)
NefariousDrO
Ooh, lovely colors and the sky is so wonderful!
artgum
I love it; spectacular theme idea! Looking forward to the rest.
masonspappy
The image is oustanding - almost majestic! One thing: assuming everything is to scale (for example, the trees are fully grown), that the goat on top the mesa must be huge!! Goatzilla, perhaps?
KatesFriend
WOW! That's beautiful.
Savage_dragon
Cool one, Mark. Happy belated b-day, buddy. ")
Kattey
I like how edge of cliffs are jamming into skies. Colors are also unusual and a bit alarming, in reddish-brown sort of impeding doom. Great mood on this picture, thank you very much!
Thelby
Ram On! The integration of the ski with the landscape is impressive!! Much Luck in this series, it should be a Great One!!!
ia-du-lin
fantastic landscape and sky, cool with trees and animal
choronr
A lot of work ahead; but, fun work ...looking forward.
peedy
Fantastic! Beautiful terrain and lighting. Corrie
Danny_G
Lots to look @.
odile
Excellent! I like the color palette!
Badsue
You know I loved your great idea doing these series, and what I see here is outstanding! I just love everything about it - the rocks, the fantastic sky and the little aries right in front of the moon. Very very well done, Mark and Brian - a fave! You know I'll volonteer for Aquarius!
Bossie_Boots
This is incredible wow !!
shayhurs
Excellent work as always!
corleonis
Thanks! :) this looks to be a very cool series i think. And I'm doing Leo, but if someone else wants to jump in and help .... @masonspappy: just think of the trees as bushes ... otherwise you'd never be able to find the ram ;)
SIGMAWORLD
Excellent composition!
X-PaX
Excellent work Mark.
RJS
What a great idea for a series! Looking forward to seeing how you put together the rest of the series. Had to look for the goat - didn't see him at first. Including the Ram was very clever, and putting him against the moon was a very dramatic touch.
LightDrop
Hey Mark Great image and idea! I'm Cancer and willing to give it a try as collab, although I've no idea where to get the Cancer-stars... Maybe you know a ressource?