Using a vector / array/ arraylist. . something! . . . to return an image

Question

I'm trying to create a class with a method that randomly returns one of five images. I can't figure out how to do it. Everything I try goes wrong because I can't figure out what kind of object to create in the method. My latest attempt (below) was with ArrayList, but the compiler keeps telling me:
smallPix2.java:32: array required, but java.util.ArrayList found
     return icons[num];
Here's the code. Any feedback appreciated:
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.border.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.util.*;
//import java.util.ArrayList;
//import java.util.Arrays;
//import java.util.Random;
public class smallPix2 extends JFrame {
     ImageIcon img1 = new ImageIcon("Art//boutet.jpg");
     ImageIcon img2 = new ImageIcon("Art//curlu.jpg");
     ImageIcon img3 = new ImageIcon("Art//helleu.jpg");
     ImageIcon img4 = new ImageIcon("Art//ranson.jpg");
     ImageIcon img5 = new ImageIcon("Art//zamora.jpg");
ImageIcon picks() {
     ArrayList icons = new ArrayList();
     icons.add(img1);
     icons.add(img2);
     icons.add(img3);
     icons.add(img4);
     icons.add(img5);
     Random rando = new Random();
     int num = rando.nextInt(5);
     return icons[num];
}

Answer 1

you have defined icons to be an ArrayList. So to reterieve data from it you should use its get() method.
icons.get(num);if you look at the ArrayList API, this will return a type Object. You obviosly want to return an ImageIcon, and seeings you know that they are ImageIcons in there you can cast the object to ImageIcon:
return (ImageIcon)icons.get(num);