Book by Dana Stirling
Hand made
Dimensions: 17 x 8 cm
'Behr' paint color swatch's in various shades
Laser etched text
2015

Book Color is randomly selected - if you have a specific request feel free to reach out via email other ways book will be sent in random

"Dear Artist We Regret To Tell You" is a handmade artist book, curated in 2015, composed of 13 real rejection letters Dana Stirling received over the years—laser-etched onto Home Depot paint swatches. Each swatch, with its dreamy name and unique hue, holds a promise; paired with the flat, impersonal tone of rejection, they form a poetic contrast. The text is delicately burned into the paper using a laser printer, giving each letter a ghostly permanence while preserving the material's original color and finish.

Collected from over 300 submissions, these chosen letters are not unique in content—but together, they tell a powerful story of persistence, vulnerability, and reclaiming authorship. The fan-bound format allows the viewer to hold them all at once, with no set order—just like the randomness of rejection itself. This project wasn’t born out of bitterness, but from a desire to transform creative doubt into something joyful and grounding. It’s a quiet celebration of failure as part of the artistic journey.

Please Note: These books are made to order and might take a little longer to ship.
In addition, color swatches may vary from book to book and are printed in random so it might vary from photo.