Is it possible, through any modular functionality, to insert an image into a (mini-)panel, either through token replacement, or through an upload dialog, or through a file selection menu?

Do I have to use views? Do I have to create nodes?

Would the best way be to make a panel node, and then embed it in a mini-node, if I want a block-like panel that can be placed on multiple pages?

I want to build a site with images in a particular layout as a small block, and make it very easy for my client to change those images in the future. I can think of some other ways to make this work, but it's driving me crazy that there seems to be no way to simply PUT an image in a mini-panel without having to upload it and hard-code an image tag.

And since my client knows no HTML, coding it this way makes it un-helpful for him. And this mini-panel block is going to be used on a number of pages, and needs to be easily modified.

I have been googling for about 45 minutes, and come up with nothing useful.

EDIT: OR EVEN just put ONLY one image from an image field w/ multiple values in a panel region on a panel node?