David C. Sutherland III

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David C. Sutherland III (April 4, 1949-19—June 6, 2005) was an early Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) painter.

Sutherland, a prolific artist, had a major influence on the early development of D&D.

Early life and inspiration

Sutherland was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on April 4, 1949, and a graduate of Minneapolis' Roosevelt High School. He studied at the Minneapolis Area Vocational Technical Institute for two years before joining the US Army as a military police officer in the Vietnam War in 1969-1970. After returning from war, he began his career as a fantasy painter as well as working in whatever other occupations he could find. His artistic abilities were nurtured and developed by his father, a fellow artist. David C. Sutherland II worked in paper production and inspired his son by bringing home innovative materials and equipment.

In the early 1970s, he became active with the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). He spent his spare time drawing sketches and cartoons relating to these pastimes.

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Career

Sutherland's involvement in game art began in 1974. After meeting Michael Mornard, a player in Gary Gygax' "Greyhawk" and then Dave Arneson's "Blackmoor" in the SCA, he was introduced to Professor M.A.R. Barker at the University of Minnesota in 1975. Barker was designing Tékumel, an imaginary world for use with D&D, published by TSR, Inc., the Wisconsin-based role-playing game publisher.

The professor put him in touch with TSR, and soon after, Sutherland was working for them. Sutherland worked under the D&D game's co-inventor, Gary Gygax, as part of a team of illustrators, including Erol Otus, Darlene Pekul, and David Trampier. Sutherland also worked as the artistic director for TSR, while also working on his own illustrations. He worked at TSR until 1997 when the company was in the process of being purchased by Wizards of the Coast and he was not offered further employment.

After his relationship with TSR ended, Sutherland found it difficult to find work and, according to friends, felt abandoned by the gaming industry. Recently divorced, Sutherland remained upset about the dissolution of his marriage, became despondent and his health began to fail. An auction of Sutherland memorabilia—including artwork, miniature sculptures, games, and game memorabilia—was held in 2004, raising USD$22,000, used to set up a trust fund for his two daughters.

He died of chronic liver failure on June 6, 2005, in his home in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He was buried on June 22, 2005, with full military honors at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is survived by his two daughters, Susan and Heather, and his mother, sister, and brother.

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