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scottobearDungeons & Dragons illustrator, Minneapolis native, dies
MINNEAPOLIS - David Sutherland, the Minneapolis native and illustrator whose images helped lead the fantasy role-playing game "Dungeons & Dragons" to success in the late 1970s and 1980s, has died of chronic liver failure.
Sutherland died June 6 at his home in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. He was 56.
A graduate of Minneapolis' Roosevelt High School, he trained as a commercial artist before serving as a military policeman in Vietnam in the late 1960s. After returning, he launched his fantasy-art career by widely distributing his while working odd jobs, such as making moccasins, said his sister, Trudy DeKeuster of Omaha, Neb.
A university professor involved with "D&D" development helped Sutherland find his way to Tactical Studies Rules, at the time an emerging Wisconsin publisher of "D&D."
Sutherland's illustrations include the famed scene of a dragon, a wizard and a bow-flexing knight on the first "D&D" boxed set that brought the game into the mainstream. Images on the covers of "Dungeon Masters Guide" and "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual," were his as well. Sutherland also worked as TSR's artistic director, but felt more at ease doing his own illustrations.
After a Pacific Northwest firm bought TSR in the late 1990s and didn't rehire Sutherland, his career crashed. Recently divorced, Sutherland became despondent.
An auction of his memorabilia in late 2004 drew $22,000 and revived his spirits. The money was used for a trust fund for his daughters.
In addition to his sister and two daughters, Sutherland is survived by his mother and a brother.
A visitation will be held at 9 a.m., June 22 at Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel, with a memorial service at 10 a.m. A military burial follows at 11:30 a.m. at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
MINNEAPOLIS - David Sutherland, the Minneapolis native and illustrator whose images helped lead the fantasy role-playing game "Dungeons & Dragons" to success in the late 1970s and 1980s, has died of chronic liver failure.
Sutherland died June 6 at his home in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. He was 56.
A graduate of Minneapolis' Roosevelt High School, he trained as a commercial artist before serving as a military policeman in Vietnam in the late 1960s. After returning, he launched his fantasy-art career by widely distributing his while working odd jobs, such as making moccasins, said his sister, Trudy DeKeuster of Omaha, Neb.
A university professor involved with "D&D" development helped Sutherland find his way to Tactical Studies Rules, at the time an emerging Wisconsin publisher of "D&D."
Sutherland's illustrations include the famed scene of a dragon, a wizard and a bow-flexing knight on the first "D&D" boxed set that brought the game into the mainstream. Images on the covers of "Dungeon Masters Guide" and "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual," were his as well. Sutherland also worked as TSR's artistic director, but felt more at ease doing his own illustrations.
After a Pacific Northwest firm bought TSR in the late 1990s and didn't rehire Sutherland, his career crashed. Recently divorced, Sutherland became despondent.
An auction of his memorabilia in late 2004 drew $22,000 and revived his spirits. The money was used for a trust fund for his daughters.
In addition to his sister and two daughters, Sutherland is survived by his mother and a brother.
A visitation will be held at 9 a.m., June 22 at Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel, with a memorial service at 10 a.m. A military burial follows at 11:30 a.m. at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
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no subject
Date: 2005-06-15 01:14 pm (UTC)I remember hearing about D&D constantly in high school. I never played, but knew so many who did. Do people still play it much?
no subject
Date: 2005-06-15 01:23 pm (UTC)It's a shame... I really think of him and anothe rartist (Erol Otis) when I think of D&D and times playing it as a kid.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-15 02:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-15 02:52 pm (UTC)Ah, my topic. :)
Date: 2005-06-15 10:47 pm (UTC)The problem has been that the real hardcore gamers from the early days have all got families, mortgages and kids now, making it difficult to game as much.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-15 10:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-15 10:49 pm (UTC)Doing my best to convert people to VTES. And oddly enough it seems to be working.
Re: Ah, my topic. :)
Date: 2005-06-15 11:38 pm (UTC)