I usually use an opaque background layer as "canvas" and a transparent layer on top of that to paint on. I never touch the bottom layer and it is usually completely hidden. You could paint on the bottommost layer and properly erase on it by removing its alpha channel - that's why you seem to delete to the background like you do. As for me I just prefer to do everything on layers above the "canvas".

Personally I rarely use more than two layers that I actually paint on - these days I mostly use only one for the actual painting although some compositions might be easier by creating the background on a separate layer behind the foreground one. If I use other layers they are usually multiply-mode or normal layers for applying shadows and light highlights.
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Griatch

Thank you, very informative, I will keep that in mind.

Great eyes. The fur is nice too.

Thank you 0, he is up for adoption.

That's a lovely portrait Molly.

molly: wow, i had missed that cat, it's fantastic! really beautifully done, especially the eyes.
i think the landscape is very well made too, and the humming birds are awesome! i can't say there's anything wrong with either the grass, the flowers or the lawn in the background in themselves, but i don't think they look entirely like pieces of the same picture, if you get my meaning? the lawn works with the flowers, they have the same kind of slight fuzz about them, but the grass in the foreground sticks out a bit by being so sharply drawn.

Thank you very much AnMal. I will take that into consideration. Just thinking the more up close things are, the more detailed, but maybe this one is too much so.
I will play around with that some more.

Awesome, Molly. I love it all, but agree with AnMal about the grass. Also, think your cat should be larger and more well-defined.

Your sky, it's wonderful and the birds are wonderful. A lovely work of art. You are SO talented. I'm proud to know you.

awe, thank you "0" Are you talking about the cat I did earlier? I won't re re-doing that until I learn how to do fur better, maybe I could use Graechan's fur filter, lol

molly: now it looks more like a unified whole to me . of course you're right about the details being sharper the closer up they are, i don't think that was the problem, really. the grass looked fine in itself. an alternative to blurring the grass (though it would take more time unless you have everything on separate layers) would be to select the flowers and sharpen them. or maybe add a little defining contour to them. and i think it's the shading and highlighting of the lawn in the background that makes it look a bit too fuzzy compared to the grass - you could try giving it "scratchy" highlight and shading. like i said, that's an alternative to blurring, but i thought the blurring worked well too. i'm a bit jealous of your painting skills and talent, i have to admit .

I think the grass looks a lot better, Molly.

Thank you O and AnMal.
I will try to do much better on the next project. When I get feedback, it helps a lot.

Sorry I can help with critiquing but to my eye that looks like a great job.

Looks real good to me Molly.Now the focus is on the humming birds and the flowers where it should be.
You are an excellent artist Molly i love your style too.

It was fun going through this thread and watch how you are evolving with your tablet and Mypaint.
stuff, keep it up.

I did want to make one comment about the lady portrait though.Her nose looks just a bit off and i think its the middle area that needs some definition.Other than that it's beautiful work in my honest opinion.

Remember the highlights are going to be on the highest part of the face.Tip of the nose, cheekbones, and forehead to name a few areas.This will give you a good estimate of shading areas.

You are really a good artist Molly.

Thank you very much Rod. I do love feedback and to me it helps more than a book or tutorial.
I am not good at drawing and never will be but I did do lots of nice water colors. Digital painting is a whole different ball game. The one good thing though is the famous redo and working in layers.

Yes the only way to redo a piece that you actually paint is to paint over it.I hope to see more of your work more often.

This is my latest project on trying to get the shading, hair and expressions the way they should be.
I have a problem with the right side of her face, (her left). Something is bothering me about the chin, she hasn't got the smile I started out with.
I used MyPaint and Gimp to go back and forth.
I added the chain by using my circle brush, beveled it, then stroked it with a gold gradient. I then used my pearl brush for the end and also the earrings.
As usual, feedback would be welcomed.