Artist's work to appear on U.S. postage stamps

Purdue grad receives awards for designs, artistic snow globes

By Nicole Arias
Staff Writer

When Purdue graduate William Harroff had to confront a serious illness causing chronic pain, he turned to art.

"Good things can come from horrible times," Harroff said. "When things were at their worst, creating was the most important to me."

During that period 10 years ago, Harroff created innovative snow globes, "Waterworks of Art," that contained floating words and objects without any of the traditional snow. Although Harroff created these works of art as a means of entertaining himself to get to the next day, they have now become his trademark as an artist.

Harroff said the "Waterworks of Art" pieces have themes of political, religious or social issues and use classics that all Americans can relate to in some way. One globe, for instance, titled "Oh Say" is filled with words from the "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Harroff said, "The nature of the globe causes the viewer to concentrate on both the meaning of the individual words or phrases and the visual beauty of the bending, twisting letter forms in space."

There are about 36 different designs, and they have recently been made into U.S. postage stamps. In 1995, Harroff was honored for his globes with a National Endowment for the Arts/Arts Midwest Visual Art Regional Fellowship.

Since graduating from Purdue in ‘78, Harroff has made a career from being a sort of renaissance artist, working with fine art, digital art, book art and children’s book illustrations, along with his famed snow globes.

"My two passions in life are art and books," Harroff said.

Consequently, book art is his favorite genre of art because "absolutely ideal art is not limiting."

As an established artist, Harroff’s primary goal is to create more good work. Beyond this, however, there is no set plan. At 47 years old, Harroff said he knows that there are few things that are in one's control.

Although Harroff’s concentration is on his work, the depth of his enthusiasm for art also includes helping and teaching beginning artists. He does this with his work as reference and information technologies librarian at McKendree College in Lebanon, Ill.,

Harroff has many outlets to influence others. In addition to lecturing and holding exhibits, he helps students find internships and reviews their portfolios.

Harroff said the one characteristic that benefited him most throughout his career has been his persistence.

"I’ve seen lots of other artists more talented than me that just gave up," he said.

Harroff said he is a successful artist because he kept at it.

His work is included in collections throughout the world, including London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art and the New York Public Library. In addition, last year he was selected as a winner of the National Postcard Art Competition Exhibition for his work titled "I Miss You."

The best experience in Harroff’s career was when he lived overseas. First he studied at Oskar Kokoschka’s School of Vision in Salzburg, Austria. After winning the school’s Best of Class Award, he taught illustration there the following two years. The experience of being abroad was an encouraging and enlightening one.

"People there respected you for being an artist. From the poor and uneducated to ambassadors — all revered artists," Harroff said. "I wish that every artist could share in that feeling (that experience gives)."

Harroff said his greatest satisfaction in being an artist is being able to participate in a field that means so much to him. He said that in a field wherein such greats as Monet and Van Gogh flourished, he does them honor by continuing their work.

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