Vivid colors, photographs and artistic ability are on display at MSU's Kresge Art Center, showcasing the work of two studio art seniors preparing for life after graduation.

Brian Guenther and Lyn Peyok turned a white-walled room with dirty linoleum floors into a gallery Monday when their show titled "Now and Again" opened for the public in gallery 114.

The artists must do all of the work necessary for their shows which are a major part of the grade they receive in the class, Exhibition Practicum (Studio Art 492A), MSU art Professor Peter Glendinning said. The class is required for those students planning on receiving a bachelor of fine arts in studio art degree.

"This class prepares the students to go out and be an independent business person," Glendinning said. "The exhibit is planned out by the students and actually becomes a three-dimensional work of art."

All of the students must use the same space for their exhibits taking into consideration the walls, floors and lighting of the gallery, he said.

Both of the artists featured in this week's student show use the form of the human body, especially faces, in their work.

While Guenther assaults his audience with bright colors in most of his pieces on display, Peyok's natural, earth-toned pieces and black-and-white photographs give the viewer a more subtle look into the eyes of a stranger.

"I don't know the people in the photographs that I paint," Peyok said. "I find a lot of the photographs at flea markets."

Peyok uses mainly older photographs for her work. Her interest in the past has been sparked by a life of constant change in environment due to her father's job in the Air Force.

"It is interesting to go back to places of the past and visit them," she said. "Even though the places change the people stay the same, sometimes not even recognizing that everything around them changes."

Guenther takes a different approach in creating his works of art. The main goal in his works of art is for the viewer to see the color first and then recognize the subject.

"I think I am attracted to painting because of the color," he said. "I really try to bring that out in my work."

Guenther produces many large-scale pieces of art but said he does smaller paintings to experiment with different styles of art.

"For one painting I'll use a certain color or brushstroke and incorporate that into other pieces," he said.

Both students use photographs as merely a guide to their paintings. By adding unique touches to their work both artists create a piece which adds imperfections to the form of the human face.

"It's not something you'd see in real life," Peyok said. "It is representational but you can recognize the subject."

"Now and Again" will be on display until the artists' closing reception today from 7-9 p.m., where the artists will be available for questions about their work. The public is welcome to view the exhibit anytime from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.