diff --git a/src/rendering/canvas-elements/layer-sprite.ts b/src/rendering/canvas-elements/layer-sprite.ts
index a2a2757..66eb6cb 100644
--- a/src/rendering/canvas-elements/layer-sprite.ts
+++ b/src/rendering/canvas-elements/layer-sprite.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ import { clipContextToSelection } from "@/rendering/clipping";
 import { renderClonedStroke, setCloneSource } from "@/rendering/cloning";
 import { renderBrushStroke } from "@/rendering/drawing";
 import { floodFill } from "@/rendering/fill";
+import { getMaskComposite, disposeMaskComposite } from "@/rendering/masking";
 import { snapSpriteToGuide } from "@/rendering/snapping";
 import { applyTransformation } from "@/rendering/transforming";
 import { flushLayerCache, clearCacheProperty } from "@/rendering/cache/bitmap-cache";
@@ -625,6 +626,7 @@ export default class LayerSprite extends ZoomableSprite {
                 this.layer, this.getPaintSource(), this.getPaintSize(), this.canvas, this._brush.options.opacity,
                 this._toolType === ToolTypes.ERASER ? "destination-out" : undefined
             );
+            disposeMaskComposite();
             disposeDrawableCanvas();
             this.resetFilterAndRecache();
 
@@ -711,7 +713,10 @@ export default class LayerSprite extends ZoomableSprite {
             }
 
             let drawContext: CanvasRenderingContext2D = documentContext;
-            const applyBlending = enabled && blendMode !== BlendModes.NORMAL;
+
+            const isPainting      = this.isPainting();
+            const isDrawingOnMask = isPainting && this.isMaskable() && this._toolType !== ToolTypes.ERASER; // erasing from mask needs some work ;-)
+            const applyBlending   = enabled && blendMode !== BlendModes.NORMAL && !isDrawingOnMask;
 
             if ( applyBlending ) {
                 drawContext = getBlendContext( documentContext.canvas );
@@ -719,6 +724,12 @@ export default class LayerSprite extends ZoomableSprite {
                 drawContext.scale( scaleFactor, scaleFactor );
             }
 
+            let maskComposite: CanvasContextPairing | undefined;
+            if ( isDrawingOnMask ) {
+                maskComposite = getMaskComposite( this.getPaintSize() ); // temporary canvas to combine paintCanvas with source
+                drawContext   = maskComposite.ctx;
+            }
+
             drawContext.save(); // transformation save()
 
             const transformedBounds = applyTransformation( drawContext, this.layer, viewport );
@@ -730,7 +741,7 @@ export default class LayerSprite extends ZoomableSprite {
 
             // invoke base class behaviour to render bitmap
             super.draw( drawContext, transformCanvas ? undefined : viewport, drawBounds );
-
+            
             if ( applyBlending ) {
                 blendLayer( documentContext, drawContext, blendMode );
             }
@@ -738,11 +749,14 @@ export default class LayerSprite extends ZoomableSprite {
             drawContext.restore(); // transformation restore()
 
             // user is currently drawing on this layer, render contents of drawableCanvas onto screen
-            if ( this.isPainting()) {
+            if ( isPainting ) {
                 renderDrawableCanvas(
-                    documentContext, this.getPaintSize(), this.canvas, this._brush.options.opacity,
+                    isDrawingOnMask ? drawContext : documentContext, this.getPaintSize(), this.canvas, this._brush.options.opacity,
                     this._toolType === ToolTypes.ERASER || this.isMaskable() ? "destination-out" : undefined,
                 );
+                if ( isDrawingOnMask ) {
+                    documentContext.drawImage( maskComposite.cvs, 0, 0 ); // draw temporary masked canvas onto underlying document
+                }
             }
 
             if ( altOpacity ) {
diff --git a/src/rendering/masking.ts b/src/rendering/masking.ts
index 0119fea..a97d773 100644
--- a/src/rendering/masking.ts
+++ b/src/rendering/masking.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,40 @@
  * IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN
  * CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
  */
+import { type Size } from "zcanvas";
+import type { CanvasContextPairing } from "@/definitions/editor";
+import { createCanvas, setCanvasDimensions } from "@/utils/canvas-util";
+
+let tempCanvas: CanvasContextPairing;
+
+/**
+ * Get a reference to a temporary Canvas used to make a composite of the
+ * source layer and the mask layer while drawing (to be rendered above
+ * the background for instant previewing purposes).
+ */
+export const getMaskComposite = ( size: Size ): CanvasContextPairing => {
+    if ( !tempCanvas ) {
+        tempCanvas = createCanvas( size.width, size.height );
+    } else {
+        setCanvasDimensions( tempCanvas, size.width, size.height );
+    }
+    return tempCanvas;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Free memory allocated to the temporary Canvas. The Canvas will
+ * remained pooled but by shrinking its size it will reduce memory usage.
+ */
+export const disposeMaskComposite = (): void => {
+    if ( tempCanvas ) {
+        setCanvasDimensions( tempCanvas, 1, 1 );
+    }
+};
+
+/**
+ * Apply a mask defined in provided mask property onto provided image source where
+ * the output is drawn onto provided destinationContext.
+ */
 export const maskImage = (
     destinationContext: CanvasRenderingContext2D, image: HTMLCanvasElement, mask: HTMLCanvasElement,
     width: number, height: number, maskOffsetX = 0, maskOffsetY = 0
@@ -33,4 +67,4 @@ export const maskImage = (
     destinationContext.drawImage( mask, maskOffsetX, maskOffsetY );
     
     destinationContext.restore();
-};
\ No newline at end of file
+};