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.
ÂÂ
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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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 (32)
NefariousDrO
I wouldn't call this average by any measure, not at all. If I have to wait a month for this kind of magnificence, I count it as time well spent. Very beautiful, ethereal even, image!
KatesFriend
Actually, you did an impressive job.
choronr
Your hard work here has paid off handsomely Mark. Your light sources are doing a great job illuminating those mountains. You know how it goes; trial and error over and over again. If you study photographic galleries, many times you'll note that dramatic lighting produces winners. And then, patience is the key to producing images that pop. Often, I'll go to bed many times being stumped without a solution to an image issue. Then, upon waking the next day, I sit down to the project and everything begins to come together ...sometimes. What makes this Terragen 2 program is that there is no limit on what you can do, just fire up the imagination and go!
wurk2hard
This is very, very cool. You did this in Terragen, just wow... I did my very 1st render with Terragen a few days ago. Hard program for me to grasp, but then, I am self taught on everything concerning computers, so in time :). Beautiful work!
peedy
Well, nothing average on this beauty! Gorgeous atmo and lighting. Corrie
wotan
Beautiful render... Interesting, I am listening Die Walkure in this exact moment!
tosk
Nice use of lighting, especially on the crescent moons.
Badsue
This is just breathtaking, Mark! Well worth the long work. The result is pure magic!
VEDES
EXCELLENT WORK!!!!!
Bossie_Boots
Just out of this world amazing !!
ia-du-lin
wonderful landscape, atmo and colors, great image
slaudi
very phantastic atmosphere,well done.
Naoo
I love it!
masonspappy
This image is off the beaten path, and well worth the detour. Fantastic!!!
.Nachtwind.
Wonderful landscape, great atmo and lighting.
odile
So you took your time , but what a fantastic result, friend!! This is excellent, colors and lights are so good.
X-PaX
Very nice work. I like the colors and the lighting very much.
Orestes
Interesting concept, i like it, nice work!
shayhurs
There has NEVER been anything average about your work!
artgum
I don't see anything average here, Mark; a gorgeous atmosphere and light throughout. A real beauty!
geirla
Great image! Take your time, make them better than good. This one is.
Feliciti
excellent !!!
faroutsider
You're obviously in a really good class if this is average! Wonderful mood.
Domi48
Superb in full size!
RJS
LOL, the really productive artists are all Photoshop wizards, so they "cheat" a lot. Those of us who try to do it all with a minimum of post-work are at a serios productivity disadvantage. If you did this all in Terragen then I am astounded by your skill level. This is not an average image by any measure. Based on the skills you're demonstrating here, I am looking forward to seeing more of your images in the future.
Danny_G
excellent work Mark
Thelby
Splendid piece of work and deserves to be on the walls of Odin's Hall of Souls!!!
Terrade
well worth the time it took, nice one mark :) you got a five star from me
starfire777
Impressive atmospheric space image!!!
wizardofnoz
Floating mountains? Thats like the Hallelujah Mts in Pandora (The film Avatar). But u r far better than me... at least u post a pic each month! I havent done one for a long long time!