After seeing how my slides were developed in 1997, as I was ill (a late autumn virosis), and at this time had no computer (great times!), decided to make a painted version of the bad result of some of my slides: so in one week I drew or painted some slides, to pass the time and to have the real colors of those slides. So was born this crayon study. Drawing ( in fact "building" the body perspective of the drawing is sometimes very difficult, as I was ill I passed this step by projecting the slide no against a screen but on my paper, and I took some landmarks directly on the paper so the perspective was built quickly and faithful to the slide. My goal was to exercise the chromatic improvement of the picture. I choose colored crayons which is a slower technique but a dry one (without water) and somewhat reversible - rubber sometimes do wonders!
And that's it! Recently I took a shot, and I must admit there are great differences between the paper drawing and the picture; had to edit hard, but still too different. Thought it was easy to reproduce drawings, but watercolors or gouache are more easy to take than colored crayons.
That's a brief explanation for what it is. Some words about what it represents
Tismana Monastery is the oldest monastery (functional, not in ruins) in Wallachia. Was mentioned between 1377-78 but there are elements that indicate its built at least 10 years later. Was founded by a Greek -Serbian monk, who came from Mount Athos to western Bulgaria and Serbia. Some scholars have the opinion he has Aromanian (Vlach) origins. When western Kingdom of Bulgaria falled under Hungary Kingdom in 1375, crossed the Danube to not be obliged to became Catholic. He offers his services to the Wallachian princes, and he built near 1350 the first monastery here Vodiţa, on the Danube banks, close to 1365, but the region falled also under Hungarians rule. After that he receive a lot of funds ti built close to the Hungarian-Wallachian border a new monastery, for the orthodox Romanian people living under Hungarian rule. So he built Tismana, during the reign of Radu the first. The building has many Serbian influences, seems small from outside but is amazing slender inside. Pictures are in their majority from another era, XVI century, when received the porch, very unusual in this form, for us ( but usual in Greece or Mount Athos). Porch "worn" on 3 sides the body of the church. After the military occupation of Oltenia region between 1718-39 by Austria, monastery became military barracks, when the church loosed the porch. Church was restored in 1934 and between 1990-2000 to the today form. The enclosure and the cells were completely changed between 1844-55, when transformed in a Gothic Revival style, as they look even today. In 1646 was built the chapel included in the enclosure.
Has a spectacular position, at the footsteps of the Southern Carpathians, in the middle of some edible chestnut forests. A small spring is located under the monastery with a spectacular little cascade. Recently, spring was deviated to avoid have humidity problems in basements, but the waterfall still exist: have to see it only in winter because being masked by the luxuriant vegetation. Has 2 hermitages up in the top of the mountains, very nice and offering great panoramas. The region is also a very well known for keeping its old tradition. This Romanian coin is one of the best looking of the country. Unfortunately not well promoted so a very few number of tourists came to visit the region. Best, have a look on the monastery website!
Today here is the third day of Christmas and is celebrated St Stephen Day. Even carols are sung in villages until Epiphany, in towns, cease to hear this Christmas songs. So today the last one: Domn Domn sa n-ălţăm (Lord, Lord to rise him!):
