About Hop Step ART!
Hop Step ART! is a small children’s art studio rooted in the idea of English and art growing naturally together.
Founded in August 2023 in Karuizawa, Nagano,
our studio is located in a quiet area of Naka-Karuizawa, where children are given time to slow down and engage deeply with drawing, making, colors, shapes, and the world of images.
During each session, English words and phrases flow gently through the space —
not as something to be studied or tested,
but as a natural part of the creative environment.
For us, English is not something to memorize,
nor something that must always be used “correctly.” It is simply one of the languages that supports expression and imagination.
When children are deeply focused on their artwork, they become remarkably calm and attentive.
To protect that concentration, we avoid unnecessary instruction and instead respect each child’s individual pace and sensitivity.
As children grow, their ability to transform feelings into words and forms naturally becomes deeper and more nuanced.
At Hop Step ART!, we do not rush this process.
We believe in observing quietly and allowing growth to unfold in its own time.
This is a place for children who enjoy calm environments, who like to immerse themselves in creative projects, and who are drawn to art, making, and imaginative worlds.
Hop Step ART! aims to be
a small, welcoming children's art club
where everyone can feel safe, seen, and free to create.
About the Artist
When I was a child, I went to a small art class once a week. It wasn’t a place where we were told how to draw “well.” Instead, the teacher listened to what each child wanted to draw and respected that choice.
As I grew older and spent time living abroad, I again experienced environments where different ideas, expressions, and ways of thinking were accepted without being corrected or judged.
Being in places like that taught me the importance of a supportive and accepting environment for one's creativity to flourish.
After becoming a parent, this feeling became even clearer to me. I began to see how much confidence and calm a child can gain simply from knowing they are being watched over with care and free of judgement.
For me, art is not about evaluation or comparison. It is a way for children to remember that they are allowed to express themselves in their own way both in art and in life.
In quiet moments of making art,
children learn to listen to their own feelings and ideas. I believe that repeating these experiences helps children build trust in their own voices and in how they choose to express themselves. With this in mind, I continue my work each day, hoping that this studio can be a place where children feel safe, can pause when they need to,
and can explore their imagination at their own pace.
Profile
Kanako Heinrichs
Bilingual artist and illustrator / English Kamishibai artist
Inspired by nature and quiet moments of daily life in the forest of Karuizawa, Japan, she creates artwork rooted in calm observation and imagination. Her work spans English storytelling through kamishibai (Japanese traditional paper theater), picture books, and children’s art classes, all centered on gentle expression and creativity. Having lived abroad for 18 years, she has been deeply influenced by diverse cultures, values, and approaches to expression. She is also a mother of two.
Education & Exhibitions
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BA, Art & Design, University of Alberta, Canada
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Solo exhibitions held in Japan and Canada
Professional Background
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Founded and ran a chain of flower shops in Canada for six years
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Experience in interpretation and translation work
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Founded Hop Step ART!, a children’s English art club in Karuizawa, in August 2023
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Illustrator for the children’s book
Kudamono Bachan no Niwa (Grandma’s Fruits Garden) (2024)
Interests
Collecting picture books,
visiting art museums,
baking, sewing,
and making accessories.
