Java: Create global graphics object

Question

I've extended the JPanel class to draw a graph. The problem that I've got is that I need a global graphics object in order to call it in multiple methods... As an example, here's what I'm trying to do:

public class Graph extends JPanel {
  private Graphics2D g2d;

  public void paintComponent(Graphics g){
    g2d = (Graphics2D)g;
  }

  public void drawGridLines(int hor, int vert){
    g2d.someLogicToDrawMyGridLines(someparams);
  }
}

This returns a null pointer exception - so my question is: how do I create a global graphics object? What's the best practice in this situation?

Answer 1

My suggestion would be this:

public class Graph extends JPanel {
    public void paintComponent(Graphics g){
        super.paintComponent(g);
        g2d = (Graphics2D) g;
        drawGridLines(g2d, ......);
    }

    private void drawGridLines(Graphics2D g2d, int hor, int vert){
        g2d.someLogicToDrawMyGridLines(someparams);
    }
}

i.e. keep all the uses of your graphics context inside the paintComponent call.