code: def figure(self,forceNew=False):
          
          if plt._pylab_helpers.Gcf.get_num_fig_managers()>0 and forceNew is False:
              self.log.debug("figure already seen, not creating one.")
              return
  
          if self.subplot:
              self.log.debug("subplot mode enabled, not creating new figure")
          else:
              self.log.debug("creating new figure")
              plt.figure(figsize=(self.figure_width,self.figure_height))
docs: make sure a figure is ready.