Helen Thomas Dranga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Caroline Helen Thomas Dranga
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Helen T. Dranga, 1922
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| Born |
Caroline Helen Thomas
December 28, 1866 Oxford, England
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| Died | 1927 Hawaii
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| Resting place | San Diego |
| Nationality | English-American |
| Education | Kensington Art Academy (Royal College of Art) |
| Known for | Painting |
| Movement | Hawaiian landscapes |
| Spouse(s) | Theodore T. Dranga |
Helen Thomas Dranga (1866–1927), also known as Carrie Helen Dranga, was a talented British-American painter. She is famous for her beautiful paintings of the Hawaiian Islands.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Helen was born Caroline Helen Thomas in Oxford, England, on December 28, 1866. Her father, Robert Thomas, worked as a plumber, painter, and decorator. Helen studied art at the Kensington Art Academy, which is now known as the Royal College of Art. This is a very famous art school in London.
Moving to America and Hawaii
In 1892, Helen moved to the United States. On December 16, 1895, she married Theodore Dranga. He was a merchant whose parents had come from Norway.
Helen lived in Oakland, California, from 1894 to 1900. Then, she moved to Hawaii. In 1901, she settled in Hilo, Hawaii. Helen and Theodore had two children: Theodore Thomas, born in 1901, and an adopted daughter named Mary, born around 1902. Both children were born in Hawaii.
In 1927, Helen lived and worked as an artist in Honolulu. She passed away on January 3, 1927.
Painting Hawaii's Beauty
Helen Dranga was known for painting the amazing landscapes of Hawaii. People said she painted with a "remarkably sensitive touch." This means she captured the beauty of the islands in a very special way. She also painted portraits of people and tall buildings.
Her paintings were often featured on the cover of Paradise of the Pacific magazine. This happened a lot in the 1920s and 1930s. For example, her painting of a Golden Shower Tree was on the cover in 1927.
Where to See Her Art
You can find Helen Thomas Dranga's artwork in several public collections. These include the Hawaii State Art Museum, the Honolulu Museum of Art, and the Lyman House Memorial Museum in Hilo, Hawaii.
Her paintings were also part of a special art show in 1992 called Encounters with paradise: views of Hawaii and its people, 1778-1941. In 2014, the Hawaii State Art Museum had another show of early 20th-century Hawaiian paintings. Helen's works were included, and people said they showed a "romantic view of Hawaii." This means her art made Hawaii look like a beautiful, dream-like place.
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View from Makiki, oil on board
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Portrait of a Polynesian Girl, oil on canvas painting by Helen Thomas Dranga, c. 1910
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Ohia Lehua Blossoms, undated, gouache
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Kaneohe Bay, Oahu. oil on board
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Casting a Net, oil on canvas
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Scene from Hilo Looking Toward Hamakua Coast, oil on canvas
