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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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.Â
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)
choronr
A circle is such as a sphere' and, equals infinity - meaning, all goes on forever, including us. What a striking peace of creativity! NASA will be looking for you.
artgum
An outstanding creation Mark!
NefariousDrO
Wow, this is absolutely fantastic! I love the circular patterns that keep recurring through the landscape.
RJS
This is brilliant as it is, Mark. That temple is perfect as you have portrayed it, containing an mysterious artifact. Love the way the circle motive repeats throughout the image, and the way the starfield seems to flow down into the landscape. I can't imagine how you could possibly improve on this. Bravo!
odile
Beautiful! Excellent lightning!
peedy
Fantastic image! Great terrain. Beautiful lighting. Corrie
Bossie_Boots
Wow this is superb love it !
lumi
fantastic render!!
SIGMAWORLD
Wunderschöne Terragen-Szene!
wotan
Beautiful green tones and land!
masonspappy
Fanstastic landscape and rendering!!
LindaMcC
Fantastic and beautiful!
Rich2
Nicely composed, Mark - that's some interesting texture on the landscape!
Terrade
looking good as usual mark :)
Badsue
Fanastic terrain and colours, Mark! I also like the temple and the light you placed within, it gives it this kind of mysterious touch. Great render as always!
shayhurs
Pretty spectacular for an "oops" (LOL) Well done as usual.
starfire777
Fantasstic landscape and textures1!!
Kattey
I like how the temple attracts the eye and I also like the colors. But stone texture on ridges seems to be too scaled up and coarse for me.
ppetersen
your terrain as always is superb... love the entire feel and in sci fi you have always blown me away with the creativity. Beautiful mood... not sure what you'll do with the temple, like where it's at but a bit too 'light' in comparison(sp) to the rest. A spotlight light like a celestial from the sky would make it fit I think... but that's just me LOL... good seeing your work Mark.
KatesFriend
Exquisite colour and texturing.