Solid Colors (Repackaged)

Story's remarkable 1983 debut is the intellectual sister of Winston's December--a discursive series of solo piano improvisations that draw on the rich jazz harmony of pioneers like Bill Evans, Story's acknowledged chief inspiration. Yet Colors is almost minimalist next to Evans's more densely textured works--a spacious blend of polychords, breezy runs, and finely timed sustenutos, with an accessible spirit and memorable melodies--like the uplifting figure she plays over a simple descending bassline in "Hymn," or the indelible major-key main theme of "Things with Wings." More economical than Keith Jarrett, more florid and changeable than Winston, Story finds a compelling middle ground here between jazz harmony and classical technique, outside improv and sturdy songcraft, complex performance and inner stillness. --James Rotondi

*Another use of the "Paint Bucket Tool" is to paint solid colour on an existing photo,to give a posterized silhouette-like feel to a subject.* 1) Keep adjusting the "Tolerance" when cicking on the cat, whilst it will pick up other shades of brown elsewhere. Lower tolerance takes longer, higher tolerance is quicker to colour but less precise. 2) Tidy up the small reminaining white bits in the centre of the cat's body with a big brush tool of the same colour of brown. 3) Tidy the area around the cat with the "History Brush Tool". *If you wanted to adjust the brown silhouette to black, just click on the brown area with the "Magic Wand Tool" and either fill it with Black with the "Paint Bucket Tool" or Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast and keep making the area darker with several applies.*

A simple bow on solid color wrapping paper can be eye catching and fun. And here we have just slightly set the bow off center to make a different, but appealing solution to a pretty standard box.