Image Size: 16" X 21" pen & ink Through the strength of the pen and paintbrush we continue to strive to create an awareness of the importance of preserving wilderness. Through our artwork, guidebooks, presentations, and of course through our trips and retreats, we continue in our efforts to educate others, share the beauty of ancient and magical places and effect changes that will better conserve our Canadian wilderness heritage. Hap Wilson is a self-taught artist and photographer and chooses to work primarily in pen and ink and watercolour. His artwork and photography reflects his love for the few remaining pockets of true wilderness, inspired by the natural and supernatural worlds, experienced on his numerous canoe adventures throughout Canada. Sunrise Studio & Gallery is located near Rosseau, Ontario in Muskoka. Our gallery sells original art work, art prints, cards, painted paddles and some of our guide books. If you would like a painted paddle, original art work, a print, cards or books please contact us and we will be happy to send it to you. If we don't have the guide book you are looking for we will refer you to a store that does. We welcome you to our studio and gallery any time, but as we are often busy guiding trips and retreats we are open by chance or by appointment only. Please contact us for the dates.
A note about why we feel it is important to write guide books: Unfortunately there are a small number of people who still feel that the routes they choose to paddle are "their" almost "secret" rivers which will be spoiled if written up in a guide book and wonder why we write them at all. They believe that if canoeists keep these routes "hush hush" then no one will ever find out about them! (Chances are pretty good that many others already know about them and chances are very good that more will "discover" them too, with or without a guide book.) While it's true that humans have loved parts of this Earth to death, and some routes will get busier once more people read about them, we feel that bumping gunwhales with other canoeists is a small price to pay for being able to enjoy those rivers and lakes. What some people don't realize or understand is that if we don't show the government that eco-tourists bring dollars into an area (unfortunately when dealing with the government, money talks…not our spiritual connection to the land and why we choose to paddle!) when they go on canoeing and hiking trips, (guide books are one way to show this) then these areas will be "discovered" and used by industry such as logging, mining, or hydro. Many times, the areas which we choose to write about are chosen because they are at an environmental risk one way or another. Canoe route books are also written to spread "traffic" out. Before the Temagami Canoe Routes book was released canoeists preferred to stick to only a couple of main routes. This impact became too concentrated over time and over-use became an issue. Hap researched and mapped out other routes in Temagami in order to protect this endangered wilderness and to disperse traffic and lessen the impact on the core area. Safety is another big reason to produce eco-adventure guide books. Before Hap's Missinaibi guide book was released there were over 34 deaths on the river in 14 years, 17 of which could have been prevented had the original topographical maps (given to tourists by the Federal government) been updated properly! Since the release of Hap's book there have been no canoe-related deaths on the river. All of our guide books are researched thoroughly and updated as often as possible. We paddle every route comparing our notes to the "topo" maps (often in error!) as well as with any historical notes from past explorers and other paddlers. Our love for the surrounding flora, fauna and great interest in the history of the routes is also researched and written about. We take numerous photographs, sketches and notes along the way. Portages are "paced out" and properly marked. Rapids are scouted, charted and studied. We then take all of this field research back to our studio where we spend months compiling the information. Our love for an artistic touch (versus computer generated images) is expressed in the books with detailed illustrations, photos and hand-drawn maps. It is important to us that the books are not only informative but also beautiful and interesting to look through and read.
The Books: 
 
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