Because you call getGraphics() on the component you want to get the graphics of!

If you have a frame with two panels ( panel1 and panel2 ) panel1.getGraphics() gets the graphics context of panel1, panel2.getGraphics() gets the graphics contect of panel2, and getGraphics() gets the graphics context of the frame ( if your frame is your main class... )
You are pretty much right about the reason why there is no new Graphics() call... I think that it is also due to the graphics context dealing with
alot of native resources...
-Nate
[This message has been edited by Nathan Pruett (edited July 31, 2001).]