Using colored pencil on a jpg in CE7

I want to draw on a jpg without running it through the AI. The instructions I see tell me to open the jpg, then select a brush, but that doesnt move

the jpg to the canvas.

Also, when I use the AI colored pencils, I would like to be able to adjust the intensity of the colors. They come out way to dark, or neon.

Im somewhat or a noob, and a lot of the instructions are beyond me. Is there a dictionary of terms for CE7?