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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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 (28)
Savage_dragon
Whoa... cooool! ")
mps
I'm hardly an expert at rendering but I really like it
grafikeer
Great scene...lot's going on in this one...love the rock formations in the foreground!
coyoteviper
way awesome textures and coloring. a superb render. I think it should stay for others to enjoy as well.
masonspappy
I like the seperate elements. But the other world is too close. At such close orbital range I think gravity would tear the moon apart in short order.
Geophree
Excellent image.
KatesFriend
Gorgeous work.
geirla
Excellent scene! And the planet is not too close.
stnaper
Outstanding image!
teecee2107
Excellent! I love the shape of the rocks and the water in the foreground. The lighting is great.
peedy
Fantastic image and lighting. Cool terrain and surfaces. Lovely water. Corrie
corleonis
My opinion: keep it! I love the foreground terrain, if you want to redo it, I'd try it with a different overlay texture ... but personally i like it, the terrain itself is great, and the big planet in the sky - masonspappy's right, but I say leave it anyways :D
odile
Excellent! Wonderful rocks,their texture is very realistic! Well done!
thecytron
Awesome composition!
shayhurs
Well done!
Denisss
Toujours de belle ambiances extra-terrestres.
saphira1998
very cool sf
claudia02
Sehr schön gemacht !
kftate
Wow! Very beautiful. Superb work!
ia-du-lin
wonderful fantasy world, fantastic landscape, like it!!
Terrade
just....wow, fantastic
Rich2
Mojoliths? Wow - I'm enjoying my celebrity status! I must say the look nice with your image mapping!
X-PaX
Very nice work Mark. Well done. IMHO the edges of the moons could be a bit softer.
starfire777
Fantastic world and terrain!!! Looks like an interesting world to explore.
faroutsider
Marvelous image. My only problem is that the rock 'shrooms on the left of the picture are very difficult to make out against the background. Keep it!
MoppelundWilli
Very powerful image with great scale. Very nice Mark!
KnightWolverine
Sensational Terragen Landscaping!
efron_241
looks like a dream