'Sunflowers' by Leon Aarts 2002

The fact that this was done in acrylics makes the loose, fluid quality even more impressive. Acrylics can be challenging to keep spontaneous and fresh-looking since they dry so quickly, yet Aarts has achieved a watercolor-like luminosity and flow. That takes skill and confidence with the medium.

Strengths:

The layering and blending techniques show good control—the artist has managed to keep the paint workable enough to achieve those soft color transitions, particularly in the background washes and the petal gradations. The way some areas remain more opaque while others feel translucent suggests thoughtful paint consistency and water ratios.

The bold, gestural brushstrokes in the petals work particularly well in acrylic, giving energy and movement without becoming muddy. The dark centers and stem details provide nice contrast and anchoring points.

Technical observations:

With acrylics, the slightly more defined edges in places (like some of the upper blooms) make more sense—that's the nature of the medium. The surface appears to have some interesting texture variations, which acrylics handle beautifully.

The vase still feels relatively simple, though this could be a deliberate choice to keep focus on the vibrant blooms above.

Overall:

This demonstrates solid acrylic technique with an expressive, confident approach. Your sister received a lovely, spirited piece that captures the joy of sunflowers with real personality!