| David C. Sutherland III | |
| Birth Date: | 4 April 1949 |
| Birth Place: | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States |
| Death Place: | Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, United States |
| Known For: | Fantasy art, game design |
| Resting Place: | Fort Snelling National Cemetery |
David C. Sutherland III (April 4, 1949[1] – June 6, 2005[2]) was an early Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) artist whose work influenced the early development of D&D.
Sutherland was born April 4, 1949[1] in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was a graduate of Minneapolis' Roosevelt High School.[3] 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. After his return from the war, he began his career as a fantasy artist, while working whatever other jobs he could find.[2] 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.
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,[2] 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.[2] Sutherland also worked as the artistic director for TSR, while also working on his own illustrations.[2] 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.[2]
After his relationship with TSR ended, Sutherland found it difficult to find work. Sutherland remained upset about the dissolution of his marriage and divorce.[2] 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.[2]
He died of chronic liver failure on June 6, 2005, in his home in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.[2] [4] He was buried on June 22, 2005, with full military honors at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[2] [5]