URSA MAJOR

This label was created for Ursa Major’s 2022 Cabernet Franc. The title, handwritten by winemaker Rajen Toor, reflects a difficult year for the winery, when environmental challenges forced a pause in red wine production.

I approached the design as a visual progression. The words reveal themselves through the act of pouring: “Welcome” and “to” appear when the bottle is upright, marking the beginning of the experience. As the bottle tilts, “Hard” becomes readable, placing the drinker in the middle of the narrative. “Times” is printed upside down and only becomes legible when the bottle is empty. The phrase completes just as the wine is finished, suggesting that hard times are something to move through, not remain in.

The flower, drawn in my signature style, also seen in my Tenfold painting series, represents beauty that endures through difficulty. Rendered in Prussian blue, it reflects the melancholy tone of the title while tying the design back to my broader art practice. Printed on uncoated stock, the label preserves a soft, tactile quality that aligns with the tone of the wine and its story.