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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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 (26)
WIGLOO
Pffff......WOW!!!quelles textures!!!!
Torulf
Perfect! How did you make the moons?
Saurav
Nice water and surf. Good use of surface mapping as well. Those moons in the sky are put together flawlessly.
shayhurs
Great job--especially like the current patterns in the water.
eyeland
Beautiful landscape - has a glowing, luminous quality to it...
DrOGaN
GREAT colors, interesting surface-work and awesome water!!
rip_13602
Great job on fusing the water to the land. Beautiful picture.
Darthmagus
Super!!! Excellent work :water is fantastic!!! I like terrain, surfaces and lighting too!!!
1pearl
Agree with Dragon . Excellent !!!
Dotthy
Wonderful, I like a lot the water and the reflections!!!
Micter
The surface is amazing, but really cool imo !
emquetier
Water is successful particularly well
christianfly
Wonderful light reflection on the water in the foreground!
joshus_hund
Agree about the water! It's wonderful!
Rids
Superb render with lots of attention to detail and the postwork tops it off beautifully!
hillrunner
Except the end of the terrain in right edge, excellent pic !
DMFW
Wonderful transparency in the water and a glorious sky. I'd like to be there to swim in that sea....
gradient
Love the water!
Snow_Angel
:0 AWESOME! Breathtakingly gorgeous terrain,surface texture,water and no words for the sky! Masterfully put together! :) V
EoinArmstrong
Wonderful, magical terrain! Great textures and water!
choronr
The combination of blues and greens are always my favorite. This image has a great lighting effect. Excellent work.
Dzim
Great!!!
PatGoltz
Just plain gorgeous! Love your water and your overlay. Wonderful colors.
abelias
You took care that the shadowed regions of the moons where not darker than the sorrounding sky, giving your composition the touch needed por real-life quality.
Pixara
Magical!
mikeerson
It's always nice to look at your work years later. Just found your gallery today. I have glanced through it and see you love landscapes. I'm not into that (yet)... I thought I'd favoritized you because you never know, I might need a connection with a landscape artist... Your work is superb!