In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Do this outside in the grass, if you can, to reduce cleanup. If you do it inside, or even in a garage, you may want to lay newspaper down so the dust doesn’t get everywhere. It’s also probably best to wear old clothes.  You don’t need to spend too long on this, just check for any bumps or especially rough spots. If you don’t see anything, then you don’t need to worry about sanding. Even if the pot does have bumps, you have the choice of leaving them to add texture to the look after you paint it. This is good for new pots because it will loosen any stickers for easier removal. It is also good for pots you have planted in before because it will loosen any dirt. If the pot has no stickers and you can tell for sure it is clean, it may be alright to skip the soak.  Although you’ll have to leave the pot to dry at various stages in the process, while it soaks, you can use the time to gather your other supplies and set up your paint area. If you don’t want to leave it for an hour, check it at 10 minute intervals and if it seems clean to your satisfaction, move forward with the process. While soaking the pot may loosen the dirt, used pots are likely to need a scrubbing to get them completely clean. The paint will not go on even or stick properly if there is any dirt or debris.  Your pots may need a soft brush so you don’t scratch them too much, but if there are any stubborn spots you can switch to a wire brush for extra strength. If you happen to scratch the pot any while brushing it, there’s no need to worry because the paint will cover it and even it out. Painting the pot while it is still wet will cause the paint not to stick, so set it out to dry. If it’s a sunny day, put it outside to dry the pot faster. The time it takes to dry may depend on the size of the pot. Drying may take a few hours, so plan ahead for this part so you don’t waste your time while you wait.
Summary: Sand the pot to smooth any rough spots. Soak the pot for 1 hour. Scrub the pot with a brush. Let the pot dry completely.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Artists often create works to comment on major historical events, and this can give you a window into their unique perspective. In contrast, powerful institutions and people throughout history often commissioned artists to create pieces that endorsed their agendas. This affects the intended audience of the art piece — who was meant to see the art.  For example, Pablo Picasso’s Guernica (1937) was created in response to the bombings during the Spanish Civil War. It’s filled with anti-war symbolism. Picasso said of the artwork: “Painting is not done to decorate apartments. It is an instrument of war against brutality and darkness.”  During the Renaissance, the Roman Catholic Church relied a lot on commissioned art as a means of promoting their cause and asserting their power. If you’re looking at a painting, knowing what genre it belongs to can be helpful. Genres are essentially categories that are used to classify art. In painting, the established and well-known genres are landscape, portraiture, genre paintings (which are paintings of scenes from ordinary life), history, and still life.  John Constable’s The Hay Wain (1821) is a famous Landscape painting that led to the resurgence of landscape painting in the 19th century.   Girl with a Pearl Earring (1665) by Johannes Vermeer is considered to be a masterpiece of portraiture.  Judith Leyster’s Carousing Couple (1630) is a great example of a genre painting.  History paintings depict a moment in a specific historical narrative. Vasily Surikov’s The Morning of the Streltsy Execution (1881) is a very intricate history painting example.  Lastly, still life paintings are of inanimate, commonplace objects. Van Gogh’s Sunflowers (1889) is a bright and sunny still life example. Art movements were surges in popularity of certain ways of creating art. An art “school” is basically just a group of artists, sometimes all in the same region, who all have a similar style or subject matter. Knowing a little bit about these can help you understand why an artist might have made certain choices.  For example, painters in the Egyptian school of art had certain rules that they had to follow — like the size of any figure they drew was supposed to vary based on the social status of the person they were painting. They also couldn’t use more than six colors, and each color symbolized a different aspect of life or death. Impressionism, one of the largest 19th-century art movements, is defined by short, loose brushstrokes that are intended to capture the quality of light. Learning a bit about the artist who created a piece can help shed light on it in a variety of ways. It can help you understand why they made certain artistic decisions, or chose to make the work at all in the first place. For example, Mexican painter Frida Kahlo had limited mobility after fighting off polio and enduring a bus accident in her early life. Her pain and struggle manifests in several of her pieces.
Summary: Understand the historical context of the time when the art was produced. Find out the genre of the painting. Learn about the art movements or schools that influenced the piece. Read up on the life and perspective of the artist.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Because of their high oil content, pine nuts spoil when they're left out for more than several hours. Unless you're eating or cooking with your pine nuts right away, refrigerate or freeze them immediately after shelling them. Place your pine nuts in an airtight container and store them in the fridge if you plan to eat them within a few weeks. Pine nuts keep for about a month in the fridge before expiring, so plan to eat them within 30 days after shelling. Mark the container with the date you shelled the pine nuts so you know how long you have before they expire. Pine nuts stay preserved for several months longer while they're frozen. If you want to keep pine nuts for long-term use, seal them in an airtight container and leave them in the fridge until you're ready to use them. Write the date that you shelled the pine nuts on the container so you can use them before they expire. Depending on your preference, you can eat pine nuts from the container or after preparing them. If you shelled a lot of pine nuts and need to use them before they expire, look up pine nut recipes online to find delicious and creative uses for your harvest.  Pine nuts make a delicious addition to soup, salad, pesto, and other dishes.  One traditional way to eat pine nuts is by roasting them.
Summary:
Do not store pine nuts at room temperature. Keep shelled pine nuts in the fridge if you'll use them within a month. Freeze pine nuts for 3-6 months if you want to store them longer. Eat the pine nuts raw or cooked.