The Woman at the Well

I would like to share a bit of the process of doing a linocut or woodcut. This is a rather small linocut, so the lines are quite fine as you will see by the picture of the linoleum. You carve away everything that you do not want to appear on the print. You will also notice that it is done the opposite way from the final print. Sometimes in my excitement to see the finished piece I have forgotten to do it in reverse only to find out when I print the piece it is the wrong direction that I wanted. So then I have to start over. Once the linoleum or wood block is how I want it, I use a brayer and roll block ink over the piece to print. I place the paper on top and use a wooden spoon to rub over it and pick up the details. It usually takes me a few tries at the printing to get it looking like I want it.I made this original print in 2002, after praying about how to express my thoughts on the gospel story. Jesus words, "You will have living water within you" was what I chose to emphasize. I wanted to place Jesus and the Samaritan Woman sitting by the well both receiving the living water entering into them and flowing within them. I placed the ripples of the water entering into the head, arms, and feet area symbolizing the gift of living water that we receive daily through our senses. We are surrounded by God's love in the act of searching for refreshment. Springs of living water are there for the taking. As seen in the linocut, Jesus fills the woman and us to overflowing.

The Woman at the Well, Linocut 61/2"h x 4"w