viewport window for life program

I want to create a life program in windows. All I know how to do is create a simple windows program. What could I use to display a 2-d array holding the population. I was thinking of somthing like a little viewport window in the main window and would like to consider two alternatives just simple char x for an individual or a small gif.

Your are only limited by your own imagination :)

Here is the GDI reference.

gg