Help with paintbrush tool

[david.smith.ii@gmail.com]

Lost focus: I click the layer and it's highlighted. As soon as I click the paintbrush on the canvas, the layer becomes un-highlighted. Then nothing is highlighted.

How do I detect/fix the empty clipboard thing?

Pixel lock is the only thing I haven't heard of before. How do I detect/fix?

I'll post a screen shot as soon as I can figure out how. I don't have anywhere to host a photo atm.