plate no. 2967

The Vegetable Garden with Donkey

Joan Miro, 1918

oil, canvasCubismlandscapegardenhousetreesdonkeyskyvegetables

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex forms into geometric shapes and understanding how to create depth through layering and perspective. It also provides practice in creating texture with varied brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the house, garden beds, and donkey, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue and grey, creating the cloud formations.
step 03
Paint the house with a base of ochre and add shadows with burnt umber and highlights with white.
step 04
Fill in the garden beds with greens, browns, and small details for the plants.
step 05
Paint the trees with thin branches and small dabs of color for the leaves.
step 06
Mix a dark grey-brown for the donkey and add highlights to define its form.
step 07
Add the details of the fence, stairs, and other small elements.
step 08
Refine the colors and values throughout the painting to achieve a cohesive look.

color palette

primary · ochre · light blue · green · brown

secondary · burnt umber · titanium white · grey · black

Mix different shades of green by combining blue and yellow with varying amounts of white. Achieve the earthy tones of the house and ground by mixing ochre, burnt umber, and white.

techniques