1928 – 2015

JEFFERSON — Consuelo Eames Hanks, 87, of Jefferson, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, Dec. 1.

She was born in Boothbay Harbor on June 1, 1928, the daughter of John Heagan Eames and Muriel McMicken Eames. She was the wife of noted wildlife woodcarver and painter, Ted Hanks, with whom she shared 52 years of marriage. Consuelo attended schools in England, France and the United States. She received a baccalaureate degree from the Lycee Francais de New York and a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Wheaton College in Massachusetts. Throughout her adult life, she lived in the United States, Europe and Asia.

Consuelo Eames Hanks is one of Maine’s beloved artists. She had her first sailboat when she was 12 years old, beginning a lifetime of observing the sea and coastline. She illustrated the Pulitzer Prize-winning book “Beautiful Swimmers: Watermen, Crabs and the Chesapeake Bay,” written by William W. Warner in 1976. For many years, she did all of the maritime illustrations in the New Yorker magazine. She has also illustrated books by Maine humorist and storyteller, John Gould, and contributed to Roger Duncan’s 1992 “Coastal Maine: A Maritime History.” She created illustrations for Wooden Boat Magazine and in 1981 was featured on the cover of Down East magazine. The Pine Tree Society used her watercolors for many of their holiday cards. Consuelo was also a signature member of the American Society of Marine Artists (ASMA), with work in many ASMA touring exhibits.

Consuelo’s work has been exhibited in many local and national galleries including Mystic Seaport Maritime Art Gallery in Mystic, Conn. She received the award of excellence for the Mystic International Exhibitions in 1987, 1991, 2004 and 2006. Galleries in Maine included Art of the Sea Gallery in South Thomaston, Ducktrap in Camden, Boothbay Region Art Foundation in Boothbay Harbor and the Maine Art Gallery in Wiscasset. Her drawings and watercolors are in permanent collections in the United States and Europe.

Consuelo will be remembered for her vivid imagination and boundless curiosity. She was an enthusiastic traveler and had many adventures in far away places including Nepal, Indonesia, Bhutan, China, Russia, Scotland, Ireland, India, Morocco, Kashmir, Africa, Japan, France, Bali, Peru, Italy, Alaska, Greece and others. Undoubtedly, Consuelo’s favorite painting subjects came from sailing cruises along the Maine coast in the family’s Friendship Sloop, Sarah Mead. She also pursued the art of printmaking and was an adventurous knitter.

She will be missed by her family: husband, Ted Hanks; daughter, Pebble H. Kelsey and son-in-law, James D. Kelsey; daughter, Robyn B. Holman; daughter, Heather H. Page and son-in-law, Ray Page; son, Ian A. Hanks and daughter-in-law, Jaime Peabody-Hanks; stepson, Peter Hanks and daughter-in-law, Trish Hanks; grandson, James Rockwell Chassereau and wife, Erika; step-grandsons, Brett Davies, Doug Davies; grandsons, Aran Straw and Skylar Page; granddaughter, Autumn A. Straw and husband, C. Henning Vagtborg; granddaughter, Audrey H. Schwinn and husband, James Merrifield; granddaughters, Sophie H. Schwinn, Muriel I. H. Schwinn, Miranda Page and Karina Hanks; great-granddaughter, Rebecca Gibson; and two great-great-granddaughters.

Consuelo was predeceased by a daughter, Wendy Beth Holman.

Condolences and messages for the family may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.