Nathan Martinez is headed for the House of Mouse. That would be Mickey Mouse.

“I got a job with the Disney Design Group as a creative assistant,” he says.

But before the Missouri Western State University senior and Elwood, Kan., resident says so long, he’ll showcase his creativity in a senior art show in Potter Hall Gallery 206.

Martinez and Phil Sanders of St. Joseph will have a joint showing of their work through April 25. Both will graduate in May with bachelor’s degrees in graphic design.

“It’s sort of like their swan song,” says Jeannie Harmon-Miller, associate professor of art at Missouri Western.

The senior art shows allow graduating students the chance to showcase their work, and they are responsible for all the details, Harmon-Miller says. That includes deciding which pieces to display, how the art will be displayed, sending out the invitations for the opening reception and handling publicity for the shows. Just hours before Martinez and Sanders were to open their show on April 14, one was finishing setting up the exhibit and the other was at Sam’s Club buying food for the opening reception.

“It gives them a first-hand opportunity to know what is needed to exhibit their art work,” Harmon-Miller says.

“I just finished a painting I started a long time ago,” Sanders says.

That painting, called “Theory,” will be one of his pieces shown in the gallery. He says its one of his favorites. Both artists also say that they’re pretty proud of their self portraits, which will be hanging in the hallway.

Martinez says his art harkens back to the 1950s and 1960s and features bold colors.

“I just try to keep things simple,” he says, “but not so simple.”

Sanders says he finds inspiration for his art wherever he can. It may be something that catches his eye, such as a color, or it could be something in nature.

The two artists aren’t the only ones whose works will be on display. Starr Gann of St. Joseph, Ali McLaughlin of Altamont, Mo., and Kady Mabury, also of St. Joseph, will have their senior art on exhibit in the lobby of Potter Hall through today.

On May 3, Jessica Johnston of St. Joseph and Sherie Renne of Excelsior Springs, Mo., will exhibit their work in Gallery 206.

The public may view the exhibits from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

After their exhibit ends April 25, Sanders hopes to find employment in the area, and Martinez will get ready to head to Orlando. Mickey Mouse will be waiting.

Lifestyles reporter Cathy Woolridge can be reached at cathyw@npgco.com