NATURAL WINE LABEL designs

A personal project to create a series of themed labels for white, orange and red natural wine, based on 3 stages from the alchemical process.

Each design was made using black India ink, sponges and brushes, then these drawings were imported into Photoshop to add handmade marbled textures and glowing colour.

Read on to find out more about the inspiration behind each design.

RED WINE: “RUBEDO”

Inspiration

"Rubedo" (for a red wine): "Rubedo is a Latin word meaning "redness" that was adopted by alchemists to define the fourth and final major stage in their magnum opus.[1] Both gold and the philosopher's stone were associated with the color red, as rubedo signaled alchemical success, and the end of the great work"

White wine: “ALBEDO”

Inspiration

Albedo (for a White Wine): "In alchemy, albedo is one of the four major stages of the magnum opus, along with nigredo, citrinitas and rubedo. It is a Latinicized term meaning "whiteness". Following the chaos or massa confusa of the nigredo stage, the alchemist undertakes a purification in albedo, which is literally referred to as ablutio – the washing away of impurities. This phase is concerned with "bringing light and clarity to the prima materia (personal material)".

ORANGE WINE: “CITRINITAS”

Inspiration

Citrinitas (for an Orange Wine): "Citrinitas, or sometimes xanthosis, is a term given by alchemists to "yellowness." It is one of the four major stages of the alchemical magnum opus, and literally referred to "transmutation of silver into gold" or "yellowing of the lunar consciousness." In alchemical philosophy, citrinitas stood for the dawning of the "solar light" inherent in one's being, and that the reflective "lunar or soul light" was no longer necessary."