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The piece I am curious about is Grieg's Arietta (Op. 12, no. 1).
In the first measure it simply says Ped. with no other mention of the pedal until measure 8, where it once again says Ped. at the start of the 8th, with a lift symbol half way through. The only lift pedal markings appear when the pedal is to be lifted before the end of the measure.

My interpretation of this is that you pedal every measure lifting at the end of each (even though it is not specifically indicated), unless otherwise indicated (e.g., 8th measure, 10th measure)
Is this interpretation correct?

Sorry if this seems a dumb question, but all of the pieces I have worked on so far have the running line at the bottom of the measure indicating pedal/pedal release.
Thanks in advance for any help you can give.
Christine

On Arietta, use the pedal for all measures(*) and change it when the harmony changes. I think that's after the first or 2nd measure for the first time (don't have the sheet in front of me).

*There are a few sections (like you mentioned) that are especially marked as to be played without pedal halfway through. Be sure to lift the pedal early enough for this to sound right. My teacher recommended using the pedal to connect the very last notes of those section with the rest again, but it's really important to have no pedal for those few notes as the effect is very distinct.

How does it sound? You always pedal based on the sound of your piano, your tempo, your space that you're playing in. I almost never look at the pedal markings unless I'm not sure what to do.