TRUNKS UP FEATURED ARTIST - Naoko Stoop

TRUNKS UP presents Naoko Stoop, a self-taught artist and illustrator based in Brooklyn, NY. 

Naoko is a New York Times Best Illustrated Picture Book Author/Illustrator, and established artist best known for her many children’s books. She grew up in Japan with parents who didn’t value her desire to become an artist. Though she graduated with a degree in business, her love for drawing never ceased. Naoko finally followed her heart to New York City to pursue her love for the arts. 

Naoko was introduced to Lek Chailert by long-time supporter and founder of Trunks Up, Nancy Abraham. The two had gone to support Lek at her New York screening of her film, Love and Bananas : An Elephant Story. Naoko, like so many who have had the privilege to cross Lek’s path, was blown away by Lek’s selfless devotion to the mission of protecting elephants. Meeting Lek inspired Naoko’s mission to create her latest elephant illustrations titled, The Brown Paper Bag Series.  

The Brown Paper Bag Series is a reconciliation with Naoko’s roots, during those years at college when she would daydream of being an artist. She did not yet have the right materials so would pick up whatever color pencils she could find and start drawing. She would draw on found objects around the house - most often a brown paper bag from her shopping trips. These moments of sketching made her feel like a little girl again and gave her the strength to believe that anything was possible. Meeting Lek for the first time reminded Naoko of that inspired feeling so in that moment, it only made sense that the medium for Naoko’s elephant series would be a brown paper bag.

For more of Naoko Stoop’s work click here.