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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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 (22)
Risus
I really like the blend of colors on this one.
mikeerson
You're like the starship Enterprise... you're just jumping from planet to planet... They all look cool... I like your creations.
azrabella
Extra-ordinary!
Fidelity2
This is a truly extraordinary masterpiece.
DarkStormCrow
Excellent work and image, well done...
wholehog
Great space shot! It could easily be a movie poster - nice one!
artgum
A beautiful blending of the colors and elements in this one.
Art_Ramos
Arrakis...Dune...Desert Planet. That is what your title made me think of. The image is beautiful. Needs a pyramid with a surrounding town inside the shield wall in the lower right hand corner of the image. This would make a stronger connection to the novel "Dune" by Frank Herbert.
Savage_dragon
OMG! I'm having this blown up & pasted to my ceiling. You never cease to amaze me, Mark. Bravo! ")
faroutsider
What a stunning image! This completely blows me away!
OrphanedSoul
this is a really cool image!
DeathTwister
Will you find that dam landing place soon before we crash?
grafikeer
Amazing!!Great POV,camera tilt and overall composition!
fractalinda
Fantasmic! Excellent!
prutzworks
great terrain & postwork
thecytron
AmaZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzing render! Stunning vivid colors!
X-PaX
Very cool render. The surfaces are very nice. A very nice sci-fi picture.
emailandthings
sweet terrain.. postwork.. meh.. can be improved ;-)
furuta
Fantastic image. excellent work!!
Dotthy
stunning work Mark!!!!!
Rich2
Way down here at the bottom, Mark - as usual... Good thing this isn't an animation - I'd be tossing my cookies 'bout now! Like the way you give it that sense of motion with the camera banking!
kasalin
Great composition my friend !!! Hugs Karin :)