Issues with Layer Clipping

[Qiveal]

I'm able to successfully create a clipping layer mask, however once I do that I can only draw one color, which for me is gray, and I cannot change it.

[rich2005]

It is a layer mask that you made ? Layer -> Mask -> Add Layer Mask  Is that correct ? 
The mask is greyscale where white is fully opaque,  black is fully transparent and grey shades provide a range of opacity. If the Mask is active, it has a white border in the layers icons then you will paint grey and show or hide parts of the image. 
If the image icon is active, like this then you can paint color in the image providing your image is RGB and not greyscale / indexed.

   

Can you give more details of what you are doing and possibly a screenshot of image and mask (like above)

[Qiveal]

New I just clicked on my object and clicked add layer mask is that not the right way?

[rich2005]

Once you add your layer mask you have to paint in it.
White layer mask, paint in black
Black layer mask paint in white.

There is information on use here: https://thegimptutorials.com/how-to-mask/ and here: https://www.gimp.org/tutorials/Layer_Masks/

and a quick animation demo using a black layer mask: https://i.imgur.com/Z6rogIP.mp4

Another question, what purpose ? I hope you are not trying to emulate a clipping path in a PS jpeg. Not going to work.