Color is never independent of light source. The same object can look different depending on sun position, time of day, and background contrast. In spring, brighter and cooler daylight enhances pale tones. In autumn, filtered golden light amplifies reds and oranges and deepens contrast.

This is a powerful reminder that color is an interaction, not a fixed property. Light meets surface. Wavelengths are absorbed or reflected. Our perception adjusts.

Tip #1: Start with the basics
Before you start experimenting with more complex colour combinations, it's important to master the basics. Begin by mixing the primary colours to create secondary colours. For example, mixing blue and yellow will result in green. This simple exercise will help you understand the underlying principles of colour theory and give you a good foundation for more advanced techniques.

Tip #2: Use a colour wheel
A colour wheel is a useful tool for any artist. It helps you understand how colours work together and can guide you in your colour mixing efforts. The wheel is divided into three main sections: primary, secondary, and tertiary colours. By using a colour wheel, you can see the relationship between different colours and get a better sense of how to mix them.

Tip #3: Start with a small amount
When mixing colours, it's always best to start with a small amount. This will help you avoid wasting paint and allow you to experiment without committing to a large amount of a particular colour. You can always add more paint if needed, but starting with a small amount will give you more control over the mixing process.

Tip #4: Mix colours in a consistent way
To achieve consistent results when mixing colours, it's essential to follow a consistent process. This means using the same amount of each colour each time and mixing the colours in the same order. By doing this, you can ensure that your colours are consistent and avoid any surprises when you begin painting.

Tip #5: Don't be afraid to experiment
While it's important to have a good foundation in colour theory, don't be afraid to experiment. Mixing colours is an art form in itself, and there are no hard and fast rules. By experimenting, you can discover new colour combinations and techniques that will help you create unique and beautiful works of art.

Easter is the perfect time to turn color science into a hands on experiment. If you have an Original CMY Cube, you can explore how pastel tones are created using light instead of paint.

Here is how to try it.

Step 1. Find natural light. Stand near a window or go outside. The cube works best in bright daylight.

Step 2. Hold the cube so light passes through a single panel. Notice the pure cyan, magenta, or yellow tone.

Step 3. Slowly rotate the cube so two panels overlap. Watch new colors appear. Cyan and yellow create green. Magenta and yellow create red. Cyan and magenta create blue.

Step 4. To simulate pastel tones, reduce intensity. Move the cube slightly out of direct sunlight or angle it so less light passes through. The colors will soften. You are not adding white paint, but you are reducing light intensity, which changes perceived brightness.

Step 5. Try layering the cube over a white surface, such as paper. The reflected light will appear lighter and more pastel compared to holding it against a dark background.

You are now seeing subtractive color mixing in action. The cube filters white light. Each panel absorbs certain wavelengths and allows others to pass through. When panels overlap, more wavelengths are filtered out, creating new colors. When intensity changes, the perceived softness changes.

This is the same principle behind dyeing Easter eggs. Pigments absorb parts of white light and reflect the rest. Adjust the amount of light or the number of layers, and you change the result.

Spring vs Autumn Through the Cube

You can even compare seasonal light. Try using the cube at midday and then again during golden hour in the late afternoon. Notice how the colors shift slightly warmer in the evening light. The cube does not change. The light source does.

In spring style bright light, colors may feel clearer and fresher. In autumn light, they may appear richer and warmer. The environment becomes part of the experiment.

Easter may look pastel in one part of the world and golden in another, but both are shaped by light. Sun angle, atmospheric filtering, and pigment all work together to create what we see.

Whether you are surrounded by blossoms or falling leaves, Easter is an opportunity to notice how color responds to light. With something as simple as a CMY Cube, you can turn tradition into exploration.

Spring or autumn, pastel or amber, color is never static. It is always a conversation between light and the world around it.