View source for David C. Sutherland III

{{Short description|American artist and game designer}}
{{Infobox artist
| name          = David C. Sutherland III
| image         =
| image_size    =
| caption       =
| birth_name    =
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1949|4|4}}
| birth_place   = [[Minneapolis]], [[Minnesota]], United States
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|2005|6|6|1949|4|4}}
| death_place   = [[Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan|Sault Ste. Marie]], [[Michigan]], United States
| spouse        =
| known_for     = [[Fantasy art]], [[game design]]
| training      =
| movement      =
| notable_works =
| patrons       =
| resting_place = [[Fort Snelling National Cemetery]]
| awards        = 
}}

'''David C. Sutherland III''' (April 4, 1949<ref name="SSDI">"United States Social Security Death Index," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JT69-9Y8 : accessed 12 Feb 2013), David C Sutherland, 6 June 2005; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).</ref> – June 6, 2005<ref name="CBC obit">{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/dungeons-and-dragons-artist-dies-1.546117|title=Dungeons and Dragons artist dies|date=June 15, 2005|publisher=[[CBC News]]|access-date=March 2, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630060748/http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2005/06/15/sutherland050614.html|archive-date=2008-06-30}}</ref>) was an early ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (''D&D'') [[artist]] whose work influenced the early development of ''D&D''.

==Early life and inspiration==
Sutherland was born April 4, 1949<ref name="SSDI"/> in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]], and was a graduate of Minneapolis' [[Roosevelt High School (Minneapolis)|Roosevelt High School]].<ref name=StarTribuneObit>{{cite news |title=Illustrator David Sutherland dies at 56 |author= Hahn, Trudi|url= http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-133418135.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160325110959/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-133418135.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= 25 March 2016|newspaper=[[Star Tribune]]| page=B6 |date= 21 June 2005|access-date=21 April 2012}} (subscription required)</ref> He studied as a commercial artist for two years at the [[Minneapolis Area Vocational Technical Institute]] before serving in the [[United States Army]] as a [[military police]] officer in the [[Vietnam War]], serving in 1969–1970.<ref name=StarTribuneObit /> After his return from the war, he began his career as a fantasy artist, while working whatever other jobs he could find.<ref name="CBC obit"/> His artistic talents were nurtured and developed by his father, a fellow artist. David C. Sutherland II worked in the paper industry and encouraged his son by bringing home creative materials and supplies.

He became involved with the [[Society for Creative Anachronism]] (SCA) in the early 1970s. He spent his free time drawing sketches and cartoons related to these pastimes.

==Career==
[[Image:DungeonMasterGuide4Cover.jpg|thumb|Sutherland's cover for the original ''Dungeon Masters Guide'' (TSR, 1979)]]

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 [[Society for Creative Anachronism|SCA]], he was introduced to Professor [[M.A.R. Barker]] at the [[University of Minnesota]] in 1975.{{cn|date=April 2022}} Barker was designing ''[[Tékumel]]'', an imaginary world for use with ''D&D'', published by [[TSR, Inc.]], the Wisconsin-based role-playing game publisher.{{cn|date=April 2022}}

The professor put him in touch with TSR,<ref name="CBC obit"/> and soon after, Sutherland was working for them.{{When|date=March 2010}} 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 A. Trampier|David Trampier]].<ref name="CBC obit"/> Sutherland also worked as the artistic director for TSR, while also working on his own illustrations.<ref name="CBC obit"/> 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.<ref name="CBC obit"/>

==Decline and death==

After his relationship with TSR ended, Sutherland found it difficult to find work. Sutherland remained upset about the dissolution of his marriage and divorce.<ref name="CBC obit"/> An auction of Sutherland memorabilia—including artwork, miniature sculptures, games, and game memorabilia—was held in 2004, raising [[United States dollar|USD]]$22,000, used to set up a [[trust fund]] for his two daughters.<ref name="CBC obit"/>

He died of chronic liver failure on June 6, 2005, in his home in [[Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan|Sault Ste. Marie]], [[Michigan]].<ref name="CBC obit"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Obituaries: David Sutherland |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-40960.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120074542/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-40960.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 November 2018 |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]]|date=18 June 2005 |access-date=20 April 2012| page=B7}} (subscription required)</ref> He was buried on June 22, 2005, with full military honors at [[Fort Snelling National Cemetery]] in Minneapolis, Minnesota.<ref name="CBC obit"/><ref name="SFWA">{{cite web |url=http://www.sfwa.org/News/ssutherland.htm |title=Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America obituary for Sutherland |access-date=2010-03-03 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060626100702/http://www.sfwa.org/News/ssutherland.htm |archive-date=June 26, 2006 }}</ref>

==Notable works==
* He wrote the [[Adventure (Dungeons & Dragons)|adventure module]] ''[[Queen of the Demonweb Pits]]'' (Q1) (with some editing from Gary Gygax).
* He created the [[wemic]], a ''D&D'' lion-centaur.
* He drew the [[Isometric projection|isometric]] maps of Castle Ravenloft for the 1st Edition ''[[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (''AD&D'') adventure module ''[[Ravenloft (D&D module)|Ravenloft]]''.  As the newly revised version of the module, ''[[Expedition to Castle Ravenloft]]'', explains in the introduction, these maps were "such a powerful aid to play that a generation of Dungeon Masters still fondly recall them and reemploy them whenever possible." Sutherland is even honored in the story of this newest version of the ''Ravenloft'' module, as there is a mention of a "Dhavit Uthurlan" as the designer of the castle.
* He is the cover artist for the first edition rules of the ''AD&D'' ''[[Dungeon Master's Guide]].''<ref name="CBC obit"/>
* He illustrated the scene of a [[Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons)|dragon]], a [[Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)|wizard]] and an armored [[Archery|archer]] on the first ''D&D'' boxed set, described as "A simple composition, it shows a wand-waving magic user and a knight, his longbow drawn, squaring off against a dragon who sits—à la Smaug from ''The Hobbit''—atop a vast pile of gold coins and jewels."<ref name="CBC obit"/>
*He also illustrated the original cover of the first edition ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' ''[[Monster Manual]]''.<ref name="CBC obit"/>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*{{cite web|url=http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=507 |title=David Sutherland at the Pen & Paper RPG Database |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222557/http://pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=507 |archive-date=September 27, 2007}}
* {{Find a Grave|38841676}}

{{D&D topics}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sutherland Iii, David C.}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
[[Category:American fantasy artists]]
[[Category:American game artists]]
[[Category:American role-playing designers]]
[[Category:American role-playing game artists]]
[[Category:Artists from Minneapolis]]
[[Category:Burials at Fort Snelling National Cemetery]]
[[Category:Roosevelt High School (Minnesota) alumni]]