Artist Tom Gianni died on March 30, aged sixty years old, from cancer. His day job was working as the top courtroom sketch artist for several Chicago TV stations. However, what he did off the clock falls squarely in DMR Blog territory.

First, though, let's look at that courtroom job--believe me, it has relevance. This is what Tom's own website says:

“He has drawn Mafiosos, corrupt politicians and serial killers. He recently covered three high profile trials: the trial of Illinois governor, Rod Blagojevich, the Jennifer Hudson family murder trial, and the trial of the notorious Drew Petersen.”

Yeah, Tom was at the top of his field, sketching art in the courtrooms of the one of the most crime-ridden cities in the nation. He started doing courtroom sketches in 1981. Here's a remembrance from one of his colleagues:

"The last time I saw him at C2E2 in Chicago he had to leave abruptly as he was called to do some courtroom sketches. To see him take off harkened back to newsmen of the 1940s racing off to catch a story. And that’s how I’ll remember him…"

However, Mr. Gianni had plenty of irons in the fire:

"Since 1983, he has taught illustration, portraiture, structural anatomy, graphic design, and advertising at the American Academy of Art, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Columbia College."

Tom was just paying it forward. He'd had some great tutors in his own past:

"His art education started with comic books and the artists that created them: Jack Kirby, Frank Frazetta, and Steve Ditko to name a few. He attended the American Academy of Art where he studied under Fred Berger, Irving Shapiro, and Howard Mueller. There he discovered Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Howard Pyle, N.C. Wyeth and J.C. Leyendecker."

I first became aware of Mr. Gianni's work when the impending publication of Pirate Adventures from the Robert E. Howard Foundation Press was announced in late 2012. I thought Tom's cover looked pretty damned cool. He quickly followed that with covers for Fists of Iron: Round 1 and Western Tales. I couldn't wait to get my hands on those editions when I attended Howard Days 2013.

Tom himself showed up at Howard Days 2014. He was a Special Guest at the event and won the Robert E. Howard Foundation Award for Best Artist. However, Gianni was by no means done contributing great art to the REH treasure-trove. He did covers for the next three volumes of the "Fists of Iron" series. In my opinion, his cover painting of REH's "Sailor" Steve Costigan for "Round 2" is--if not definitive--one of the all-time great renderings of Howard's pugilistic protagonist.

Tom Gianni was well-fitted to paint Robert E. Howard covers. He was a long-time fan of the pulps and SFF in general. His artistic tastes--Frazetta, Pyle, Wyeth and Leyendecker--certainly equipped him to portray pulp heroes. That said, I think his background as a courtroom artist endowed him with some valuable skills. Check out this quote from an article on courtroom sketch artists:

"But being talented isn’t enough. Speed is essential, and so is finding just the right scene to encapsulate an entire day or trial."

Tom Gianni’s iconic portrait of Sailor Steve Costigan (and Mike the Bulldog).

Tom had the speed and talent to crank out some fine covers for the Foundation Press. He also knew how to capture just the right moment. His cover for Fists of Iron: Round 1 is packed with visceral power and dynamism. Gianni had seen men punched in the face. I guarantee it. He’d also, I would guess, seen several tough Irishmen around Chicago in his day.

And what about all of those "Mafiosos, corrupt politicians and serial killers"? REH wrote about the dark side of life and Tom saw that every day he worked in court.

Fists of Iron: Round 4 was Mr. Gianni's last cover for the Foundation. Honestly, I wish he'd been given the opportunity to paint a cover for Swords of the North. I wanted something a little more savage than what I got. I would’ve loved to see his rendition of Cormac Mac Art.

Feel free to check out the gallery of Tom Gianni art below.

In closing, I've got a couple of quotes from people who actually met the man. Here's what Ed Chaczyk--serious REH fan, art collector and Tom's friend--had to say:

"What an upfront and available person. Even though [Tom] was ailing after a kidney operation, I talked him into attending Howard Days. Two of his paintings were used for covers on Robert E. Howard books and they were just published. My fondest memory of this trip was when he locked his keys in his rental car and he, Barbara Baum and I waited for the locksmith (tow truck driver) to unlock the car before we could go to Caddo Peak and the barbecue. When I talked to Tom, he was so down to earth and open and engaging. I'll miss him."

REH scholar, Rusty Burke, remembered Tom Gianni in this fashion:

"I am very deeply saddened to learn of the death of my friend, Tom Gianni, a painter and illustrator of rare talent, and one of the nicest fellows you could ever meet. Tom did outstanding cover art for some of the books published by the Robert E. Howard Foundation, notably the four volumes of Fists of Iron, Howard's collected boxing fiction. In person he was humble, and genuine, and funny, and a joy to talk with about illustration art. Rest in peace, Tom - we're gonna miss you here."

Requiescat in pace, Tom. We lost you way too soon.