1.try to derive a new class from StatusBar and override its OnDrawItem method
protected void OnDrawItem(object sender,
System.Windows.Forms.StatusBarDrawItemEventArgs sbdevent)
{
Graphics graphics = sbdevent.Graphics;
// TODO:  Change to use system colors.
System.Drawing.SolidBrush backgroundBrush = 
new System.Drawing.SolidBrush(Color.Red);
}
2. see
http://www.dotnet247.com/247reference/msgs/9/45667.aspx