building a composite image

EXAMPLE:
say I wanted to make a quilt, and I have a png of same sized different color squares

I am thinking of painting these on to a JPanel of the required size.
(If I wanted the JPanel/Quilt to be a 10x10 grid, then it would be 10 times as long and 10 times as wide as the colored squares.)

I need a good starting point to learn how to "paint/draw/etc" an Image onto a JPanel at a specific location on the JPanel, that will permanently attach itself to the JPanel at that spot.

also is this a good approach to the task? (I probably will not need to save the composite Image/Quilt, but It would be useful to be able to know how)

Thanks
Jonathan

Have you read through the following?
Drawing an Image (The Java™ Tutorials > 2D Graphics > Working with Images)

nopers. Ill get started.