The business card. A chance to leave an impression, to distinguish yourself from the pack, give someone your phone number without having to carry around a pen. As my job doesn’t really require meeting anyone or glad-handing, I’ve been relegated to carrying around social business cards (there HAS to be a better name for these things, but “social cards” just sound like another name for “greeting card.”)

I have an etsy storefront where I sell my printed goods (rkamidees.etsy.com) and I wanted people who bought my art elsewhere to know that they could find some of my art online. I’m really not a printer-for-hire at this time, so I felt free to steer away from the traditional structure of 2”x3” heavyweight matte stock. I started playing with the idea of something that would add to the value of the accompanying art piece, build my brand (Suburban Gutter Anthem), and still point someone back to my storefront.

I liked the idea of using a certificate of authenticity as my template because the document has become reserved for shitty commemorative plates and painted coins. Things of questionable quality. They don’t really mean much. But as a hand printed piece, I could maybe play off of that reputation. As for incorporating the mustache: it’s Movember and I had a lino carving of a mustache lying around. The idea of a MoA struck me as funny at first, and I ran with it.

The body of text was set in an Engraved Shaded typeface, similar to what is on US currency, which I liked because it betrayed my pithy writing. The title was sent in an English Black, which was a nice play on an Old English typeface.

The final piece was done in three passes. First, the gold border, then the text in black, and finally the mustache in a red-brown. The printing press in the photo below is what’s called a Chandler & Price platen press. It is motor driven but hand-fed.

It was three months from idea to final product, which is more than I would’ve liked to spend on something I’m going to give away for free. But I’m finally done and can move onto my next project. A big thanks to Jessica Spring of Springtide Press, who lets me invade her shop at least once a week, and then holds my hand when I don’t know what I’m doing.

And if you want your very own Mustache of Authenticity, buy something.