You are not the only one trying to do this. I mostly went with GDI+. Here is a sample.
http://www.mcrgsoftware.com/gradient.jpg

>Hi Mike,
>
>>Hi Malcolm and Herman,
>>
>>I'm looking forward to see what you've been up to :)
>>
>
>Here is the link if you want to see:
>
>This is my (incomplete) "Application Preferences"
>http://bdurham.com/guests/hermantan/preference.jpg
>
>These are few sample menu/popup style & color based on user preferences
>http://bdurham.com/guests/hermantan/popup1.jpg
>http://bdurham.com/guests/hermantan/popup2.jpg
>http://bdurham.com/guests/hermantan/popup3.jpg
>
>And this is the sample from VFP9 code. This is still a simple thing, cos I haven't finish yet. There is no bitmap icon, and it still missing some drawing features.
>http://bdurham.com/guests/hermantan/vfp9_ownerdraw.jpg
>
>Regards