Asst. Prof. Pailin Phokthavi
Abstract :
“NEVER A DAY WITHOUT A LINE,” is a creative artwork and experiment inspired by the motto once adopted by the Greek painter Apelles, who kept his discipline to draw at least one line every day. The project aims to transform lines, simple elements in art, into a new way of journaling, to encourage all artists and creators to keep making art every day, even just a little, and to explore the feelings and self-experiences that emerge through the process.
The origin of this work began with a personal memory from the first day in architecture school when “a line” was the very first topic of all lessons. The teacher, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tipsuda Patumanon, assigned the hand-lettering “NEVER A DAY WITHOUT A LINE,” followed by its Thai version, “อย่าพึงเว้นแม้วันวาร บ่มิจารสักเส้นเดียว.” Those early lessons became the root of this artwork—a reminder that consistency is the key to growth.
Using a roll of receipt paper as both a background canvas for the artwork and a metaphorical line itself, the artwork was created by drawing one small piece of line art each day for 50 days. Different kinds of lines—straight, curved, thick, thin, and textured—were used to express moods, ideas, and small moments from daily life. The finished paper roll, stretching along the wall, becomes both a timeline and a visual diary. In the exhibition, viewers are invited to interact by starting their own drawing on a new roll, creating their own “day one with a line.”
Through this process, the motto was not only practiced but also proven. The project reveals that lines hold power, but true strength lies in consistency. It teaches that creativity grows in the process, not in perfection, and that each line drawn is a trace of self-awareness and discovery. In the end, this artwork becomes a record of life where art and living meet, reminding us that when we live with art, even a single line a day can enrich life itself.
Objectives :
- To synthesize simple elements into a new way of journaling through a new form of art.
- To inspire and encourage all artists and creators to persist in practicing and creating art at least a little every day by the creative artwork that shares life experiences.
- To experiment with creating the artwork applied with a concept from the motto, and to explore the feelings and self-experiences while working with the artwork.
Conceptual Framework :
Self-Experience: the origin of the artwork.
It was only day one in the architecture school when we learned the most important lesson in lives. “Lines” were the first elements we drew on the first day before all the rest of the wisdom would come. We were required to do hand-drafting for the word lettering “NEVER A DAY WITHOUT A LINE,” assigned by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tipsuda Patumanon (รศ.ดร. ทิพย์สุดา ปทุมานนท์) in an architectural drawing class. The week later came the lettering in the Thai version, “อย่าพึงเว้นแม้วันวาร บ่มิจารสักเส้นเดียว.” The works implied the essential lesson given, “Consistency is the key to success.” These profound memories and experiences originate the concept of this artwork.
Lines
“Lines” are blood veins giving pulses and life in art. Lines define shapes and construct forms. (The J. Paul Getty Museum, n.d.) Lines can change perspectives and dimensions. Simultaneously, lines capacitate as a magic tool to lead and move us to desired directions. At the most abstract level, lines communicate meanings, emotions, and imagination. (Coates, 2023) Yet, lines are fundamental. Mostly, not dots or planes, lines are the first thing we start when we draw.
Never a Day without a Line
Brought up by Pliny the Elder, a Roman author, the idea of “no day without a line,” or “Nulla dies sine linea” in Latin, was once adapted to the Greek painter Apelles’s work life. Apelles kept his discipline and consistency in drawing at least a line every day, never letting a day pass by without practicing his art. It has inspired many artists to use the words as their mottos. (Coggins, 2022)
Creation of the Artwork
Derived from self-experiences and the lesson from the motto, the concept, “NEVER A DAY WITHOUT A LINE,” leads to the creation of the artwork. Using a roll of long receipt paper strip as a canvas to draw thumbnail arts with lines to record tracking of moods, ideas, and incidents in a daily life, the motto has been experimented with, proved, and presented through this artwork.
Process / Methodology :
- Set the ideas and project direction
Set the ideas to convey the concept “Never a Day without a Line” in the creative artwork, using lines as main elements on a new form of paper surface used for drawing. The idea came up with drawing a piece of line art once a day for a period of time on a long receipt paper roll, which itself also has the character as a line.
- Research analysis and development of a conceptual framework
Research and study for related information and knowledge about the background of the motto “Never a Day without a Line” and lines as a fundamental element used in art.
- Create an artwork and the presentation
Draw line art thumbnails with ink and pencil on a receipt paper roll, using lines as a main element and using many types of lines: straight, curved, bent, thin and thick, contour and shading, and hatching lines to create thumbnails 1 time a day to portray feelings, stories, incidents, and little things that happen in the artist’s daily life.
- Exhibit the artwork for viewers to participate and interact
Display the paper roll on the wall and show the art piece. Provide a new receipt paper roll for viewers’ interaction in starting their drawing as well.
Techniques and Materials :
Materials:
- A receipt paper roll in 8 cm wide and 5 meters long
- Pens in different sizes, pencils, printed materials, threads, and mixed materials
- Strings and push pins for the exhibition setting
Technique:
The artwork: the artwork is created with mixed media to illustrate the drawing in several techniques, such as using many sizes of ink pens and pencils to draw on the receipt paper roll or collaging with collected or printed paper. Some thumbnail art pieces are composed with other materials such as threads.
The Exhibition: the artwork will be displayed on the wall with strings holding the art piece. Along the length of the wall, the art will be exhibited horizontally to emphasize its performing as a line. (A new receipt paper roll will be provided for viewers to participate and interact in line drawing to start their own day one with a line.)
Result / Conclusion :
The creative artwork “NEVER A DAY WITHOUT A LINE” has become “a record of life” where life and art meet. The result of the motto has been proved not just today, but more than 2000 years ago. The philosophy is simple and successful, yet challenging, as it has been confirmed by many artists who used it as their life wisdom.
On the strip of receipt paper roll, acting as a linear canvas or a line itself, are the little thumbnail art pieces drawn in pencil and ink lines by hand, a picture a day for 50 days. The initial intention was to create an inspiration for all artists to work and practice consistently, even if it is just a single line a day. However, during the process of the artwork, the outcome of this work gave me more lessons than expected, for example:
- Lines are powerful, but consistency to draw is real strength. To be successful, not only practice skills, but also our habits of regularity need to be crafted every day.
- Creativity can be embedded in the process. A line a day helps us to focus on the process rather than the outcome. New lines and new ideas have to be creatively drawn every day.
- When focusing on the process, we will be able to let go of the perfection. Practice makes not perfect, but better every day.
- Self-awareness, self-exploration, and self-discovery happened. Now I know myself more, both mind and body: my shaking hands, my obstructive eyesight, my anxiety, how I feel, what I like to draw, when my life has been chaotic, and how I have been challenged by consistency. All pervade in the lines.
For art, all masters cannot achieve without starting by drawing a line, not only once, but once a day. Because when the art is in our life, even though it is just a line in a day, the art will be nurtured by life, and life will be enriched by art in return, as the former teacher has hinted, “(LIVE YOUR LIFE,) NEVER A DAY WITHOUT A LINE.”
References :
Coates, Gavin. (2023). Line: Types, Techniques, Element of Art. On-line. Retrieved October 2025 from https://naturalist.gallery/blogs/faq/line-types-techniques-element-of-art?srsltid=AfmBOoren_wgsyfd4Hw1ViQqPohBD-2Mwa6yqU70oFhUiaSMuQXjz8pL
Coggins, Garance. (2022). “Not a day without a line” — The gentle discipline of drawing every day. On-line. Retrieved October 2025 from https://medium.com/better-humans/not-a-day-without-a-line-the-gentle-discipline-of-drawing-every-day-9fd6bd23470e
The J. Paul Getty Museum. (n.d.). Elements of Art. On-line. Retrieved October 2025 from https://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/building_lessons/formal_analysis.html