FOUR DAYS A WEEK. At Our Fingertips. An Unexpected Place.

SELF-TAUGHT ILLUSTRATOR. Naoko's passion for drawing began at age five and in Japan, where she was born. After graduating from Keio University in Tokyo and working for a corporation in its marketing department, Naoko remembered her love of sketching and creating magic with her art. Listening to her childhood voice, she realized the key to her happiness was being creative and expressing childhood joy.

Naoko's love of drawing continued to stir inside her when she lived in Vancouver, BC, Canada. But it was in Brooklyn, New York, when Naoko's creative spirit set her on a new journey. She studied interior design and took architectural perspective drawing classes. Years later when she was drawing more freely and painting on used brown paper bags, she also created the Red Knit Cap Girl and her friend bunny, which became a way for Naoko to nurture childhood longings and a create a magical place of wonder, hope, and joy.

Naoko's first gallery showing soon followed in 2009 when a gallery owner found her painting on grocery bags.

Today Naoko creates out of her little loft studio in Brooklyn, using mainly brown paper bags from grocery stores and plywood as her canvas. She continues to be inspired by her surroundings, the materials she discovers in her neighborhood, and beautiful Prospect Park.

Featured below is a select collection of Naoko's artwork, including a few favorites from her Red Knit Cap Girl series. Naoko's illustrations are available for purchase at her Etsy shop. She can be reached here with any questions you may have for her.
 

❤ For our families and friends we wrap our arms around Hope through the earthquake and tsunami. Keeping Japan in our prayers.

❤ Join Naoko's Help Japan Project. ƒ๏ℓℓ๏ω hope.

❤ Leave a comment for Naoko and be part of the community at Four Days A Week. She would love to hear from you. Share with her your thoughts, wishes, and dreams.

June 2010

WHAT IS A STOOP?
A stoop is a small staircase leading to an entrance of an urban apartment building, according to Wikipedia. For me, it's also a symbolic icon of Brooklyn, New York, where I live and a place I love.


I ADMIRE YOUR COURAGE TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAM. IF THERE'S ONE ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE TO OTHERS HOPING TO MAKE THE SAME LEAP, WHAT WOULD THAT BE?
I didn't make a big leap one day : ) Although I started to paint two years ago, I was in different places for a long time, feeling something could be better. It took me a while to just look at myself and be open to the creative voice in my heart. Later I followed that voice, and I think I am still on the way. Probably, I am not the only one.


WHEN YOU ARE NOT CREATING ART, WHAT IS YOUR NEXT MOST FAVORITE THING TO DO?
I'd be walking in Prospect Park, which is a gem of Brooklyn, or exploring vintage stores and strolling the neighborhood for nice, fresh food.

Welcome to Naoko's Stoop, where she nurtures and brings to life childhood wonder, joy, and hope through her art. She presents from left to right: Oak Reading Room, Imagination, Let's Try, Follow The Wind, Momentum, Messenger, White Ocean, Balance, and Winter Berry No. 2. For more, continue to Naoko's shop at Etsy, or visit her at the Brown Paperbag Collection. Feel free to also leave comments for Naoko here.