By
Ian Hanks
Piece description from the artist
Light Vessel 66 (LV 66) was built at Bath Iron Works in 1896. She was built on a wood-sheathed steel frame hull and was equipped with a 12-inch steam chime whistle and a cluster of four electric lens lanterns mounted in galleries at each mast head. She was 123 feet LOA and displaced 590 tons. Between 1896 and 1900, LV 66 broke adrift seven times requiring the replacement of seven mushroom anchors as well as over 1,000 feet of chain. In 1904 she became the first U.S. lightship to have wireless radio equipment installed on board. In 1907 Lightship 66 was placed in relief service when replaced by Lightship 85. From 1918-1923, LV 66 was assigned to Great Round Shoal and from 1923-1934 she was assigned to Cross Rip, both off Nantucket.
This painting depicts Light Vessel 66 on station off Nantucket Shoals just before the turn of the century. A whaling ship, possibly the great Charles W. Morgan, is emerging from a marine layer of cooler air which has condensed to form some fog near the shoals off Nantucket. The whaler has followed the fog horn sounding from LV 66, to navigate safe passage away from the shoals as she finds her way through the marine layer.
Ian A. Hanks grew up on the coast of Maine, exposed to sailing and the sea. His parents, Ted and Consuelo Eames Hanks were life-long accomplished sailors and instilled in him a love for the ocean and boats of all kinds. Both parents were professional artists and under their guidance he learned to draw and paint at an early age. Ian’s father, Ted, was a watercolorist and nationally recognized wood carver whose body of work includes life-sized black ducks above the trout pond at the LL Bean flagship store in Freeport, Maine. His mother, Consuelo, was an accomplished artist in both pencil and watercolor mediums with a body of work that gained her a national reputation and following.
Ian studied criminology at the University of Southern Maine and pursued a career in private security and investigations as he started a family, including a daughter he and his wife, Jaime, adopted from Guatemala.
Ian has been painting since he could hold a paintbrush, thanks to his parents’ inspiration and encouragement. His paintings have been displayed at galleries in Maine and included in the International Maritime Art Show at the Mystic Maritime Museum and Gallery in Mystic Connecticut.
Ian is currently welcoming commissions.
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