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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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)
Illusionator
Wow. Very nice,good composition and interesting fore ground make this a better picture than most multi planet filled sky picts I see posted here. I'd like to go camping on that planet.
NefariousDrO
Very cool! You've become incredibly good at this!
RJS
Yikes! I just discovered your gallery, and I am blown away. This is first class space art, my friend. Professional quality work, IMHO. Bravo!
rbowen
Excellent!
choronr
Now this is classic SciFi work with Terragen 2. Love the work on the terrain with its texture/color. The background is top drawer!
Danny_G
Excellent work Mark
grafikeer
Great scene...really ke the composition and lighting...nice looking planets too!
peedy
WOW, awesome scene and lighting. Fantastic terrain. Corrie
TerraCr8tor
Well done, great details, awesome rocks
shayhurs
Very cool as usual!
ia-du-lin
great terrain and surface, like the planets/moons
Naoo
Beautiful!!!
fallen21
Awesome landscape!
Chaosphoto
another outstanding planetscape :)
odile
Great composition and light.
thecytron
Nicely put together!
geirla
Excellent image! Great terrain and vegetation. And sky, too.
claudia02
Klasse Arbeit !
NetWorthy
A nice blend of realism and surrealism - beautifully done!
Thelby
Yep, you got it Goin On this month! The rockface is most intrigueing to me, Very Nice color and cracks! Exceptional placement of foliage, too and the Sky, WOW!!!
corleonis
Wow the foreground is excellent!! the rock face and vegetation are done really well ... Rendo needs some emoticons so i can give you a thumbsup :D i like this one a lot
A.C.Wolfe
Super duper!
Blitzz-Licht
absolutely fantastic - thumbs up (-: .
wotan
BEAUTIFUL SCENE AND TEXTURES!
Terrade
another good one, wish i could get rocks looking like that!!
faroutsider
Wonderful terrain work and textures! Excellent.
X-PaX
Very nice work. Well done.
starfire777
Excellent world!!!
airflamesred
I like this - espcially the contrast
ialora
I like the texture on the terrain and the vegetation is a nice touch in this scene.