There are a lot of ways to apply a sunburst. I like to use wood dye and work directly on the wood similar to the method used by violin makers (and guitar and mandolin makers before sprayed finishes became the norm). The method enhances the grain of the wood because dye interacts with it, becoming darker in the areas where the water base of the dye is held and stays wet, like areas with curl in the wood fibers. If you love the quirkiness of wood and like the way that watercolors look, then this method might be for you. It is, however, less predictable than spraying color coats over a sealed wooden surface. I think it’s worth the extra work and a little risk!