Rob Burton
LightNews LightNews
banner
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Rob Burton
@trebornotrub.bsky.social
4.8K followers 6.8K following 2.1K posts
Artist, poet, writer & PhD Sociologist living & working at an American University in China 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇨🇳

Art: https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/Robert.Burton

& website
https://www.rob-burton.co.uk/art-for-sale

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thepe
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Rob Burton @trebornotrub.bsky.social · Sep 4
Starting a thread: a poem a day by Han Shan (Cold Mountain). This Tang-era recluse became a muse for Jack Kerouac & Gary Snyder. His words on cold cliffs, quiet minds, and the noisy world are startlingly modern. #HanShan #BeatGeneration (translator RED PINE (Bill Porter) #Poetry
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Out for Hotpot last night and Chilli Madness #hotpot #friends #china
November 30, 2025 at 4:42 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
#stunday Christmas is switched on at our local shopping mall in Wenzhou, China. The Chinese love Christmas - not for the sake of Jesus, but for the sake of mammon. But fair play it is a stunning event, fake snow and all. #china #Christmas #xmas (Yesterday -Saturday 29 Nov)
November 30, 2025 at 1:21 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Tomorrow Comes Today, especially when one has to spend their Sunday marking scripts. #academicsky #teaching

#Music to mark by

youtu.be/-QrxWiv6t2Q?...
Gorillaz - Tomorrow Comes Today Live (YouTube Music Nights)
YouTube video by Gorillaz
youtu.be
November 30, 2025 at 1:06 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Scanning ones art work is the hidden boring side of the work.

Why do I always leave it until I have a pile that takes hours?

Curtains are closed cos here in Wenzhou on 29 November it's around 20c and the sun is streaming through the window over heating my Mac. #art #artyear #artwork
my "studio" desk with my Mac downloading scans of my work. Note my messy desk
November 29, 2025 at 5:37 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Today its #caturday - here's two black #cats for luck #cats #art #artist #artyear #EastcoasttKin
A loose, expressive ink drawing of a black cat with sharp ears, splattered lines, and piercing green eyes, giving the artwork a chaotic, humorous energy. A minimalist ink sketch titled “The Black Cat,” showing a slender black cat sitting in profile with a long striped tail and textured, smudged shading.
November 29, 2025 at 4:36 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
The Sounds of Fascism - me reading my own poem about American Politics to students during the Poetry Club a colleague and I organise at the university I work at. #poem #poetry #politics
November 29, 2025 at 1:12 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Recently, in a training workshop, colleagues recommended playing music in class arguing students felt more relaxed and comfortable when doing in-class work, not when actually teaching. I tried using this and students seemed to like it & seemed more engaged. #music #teaching
youtu.be/0uIUWoh2AVo?...
Trip-Hop Psychedelic Legends Vol. 3 (Massive Attack, Portishead, Tricky, Björk | Inspired AI RMX)
YouTube video by Metaflow
youtu.be
November 29, 2025 at 12:11 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Guerilla #art with white board markers on the computer console desk top whilst bored during a class when students were doing in class work. And the resulting stain left on said console top. Strangley it won't wash off. I guess Banks had the same problem. #artyear #Eastcoastkin
White board marker art on the computer console whilst bored in class (students doing their work) The stain left on the computer console after my guerilla art with white board markers
November 28, 2025 at 10:27 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Some christmassy art I've been doing recently Book marks and cards most of the images are generic to be fair. I'm not very Christmassy so seek inspiration where I can. Ho ho ho. #Art #Xmas #artyear #Eastcoastkin #Christmas
Front or back of the book marks. Who knows. Mainly "gnomes" with big flipping pointy hats and beards And 3 elongated Xmas trees Front or back of the book marks. Who knows. Mainly some globes a dismembered rudolph 3 little birds standing on each other and a Christmas tree 9 cards with various festive images on them
November 28, 2025 at 5:41 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
#scape #ForestFriday #ClassicMono #BWFri A lake scape in #China. #reflections
A black and white photograph of a lake lined with tall, dead tree trunks rising straight from the water, their reflections creating long vertical lines across the still surface. Behind them, a dense forest of living trees forms a dark, textured backdrop, giving the scene a quiet, haunting beauty.
November 27, 2025 at 10:55 PM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Reasons to be cheerful - Thank fu@k its Friday

#music

youtu.be/CIMNXogXnvE?...
Ian Dury and The Blockheads – Reasons To Be Cheerful, Pt. 3 (Official 4K Music Video)
YouTube video by Ian Dury & The Blockheads
youtu.be
November 27, 2025 at 10:46 PM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
My artwork featured in the social media posts of the guy who runs the art/book/antique shop where it is for sale. One's art always looks good hung. #art #artist #artyear #eastcoastkin #robot #robots
A framed, brightly coloured robot painting hangs on a concrete pillar inside a dimly lit art and antiques gallery in Wenzhou. The artwork stands out against the muted surroundings and is displayed as part of the gallery’s items for sale.
November 27, 2025 at 6:16 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
#UrbanGaze - A street view of Wenzhou, China. Notice the large church to the rear left of the image. Religion is not banned in #China despite the anti-China mythmakers saying so. Also notice the space quite different from the crowded dystopian apartments blocks usually shown by said "commentators"
Urban street scene in Wenzhou, China. Several scooters and cars move through an intersection, with tall modern apartment towers in the background. On the left, a large church with a prominent cross-topped steeple is visible, showing the presence of active Christian communities in the city.
November 27, 2025 at 1:01 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Farmer in the mountains of Anhui Province #China #HumansOfBlueSky #people #ClassicMono
A black-and-white photograph of an elderly farmer standing in a field in the mountains of Anhui Province, China. He faces the camera with a gentle, open expression, surrounded by tall grasses and natural vegetation.
November 27, 2025 at 12:51 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Misheard Lyrics: Hang on, Sloopy
Sloopy, hang on
Yeah (Yeah), yeah (yeah) #WackyWednesdayArt #art #artyear #dog #eastcoastkin #monochrome acrylic and pens on canvas board #snoopy absract
An abstract black-and-white painting inspired by Snoopy. The familiar Snoopy silhouette is suggested through loose, expressive brushstrokes: an oval head with two dark eyes, a rounded snout, and a simple body outline. Bold splatters, textured strokes, and high contrast shapes create an energetic, modern reinterpretation of the cartoon dog.
November 26, 2025 at 4:18 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
No work Wednesday - time to funk it up

#music

youtu.be/-5EmnQp3V48?...
The Commodores - Brick House
YouTube video by steelydan1979
youtu.be
November 26, 2025 at 12:40 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
RIP Jimmy Cliff - Many years ago travelling through Botswana we were stopped at a military checkpoint. A soldier with a gun was rummaging through my stuff and wanting half of it. I gave him my Jimmy Cliff tape which satisfied him and let us go. Thanks Jimmy for the #music

youtu.be/MrHxhQPOO2c?...
Jimmy Cliff - I Can See Clearly Now
YouTube video by JimmyCliffVEVO
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 10:56 PM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
#AnimalArtTuesday Pen and Oil Pastel #art #artist #artyear #eastcoastkin
A vibrant mixed-media artwork of a dove in flight, painted in warm pink, orange, and yellow tones. The bird carries a small green branch in its beak, symbolising peace. Above it, the word “PEACE” is written in bold, textured letters filled with red, white, and blue accents. The soft background wash enhances the sense of movement and lightness.
November 24, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Reposted by Rob Burton
alinagrafik.bsky.social
Here's your updated cheat sheet of daily hashtags and themes for the week November 24-30.

Compiled by @handcranked.bsky.social

#EastCoastKin #ArtChallenges #Photography #Art
Art challenges: November 24–30 Monday, November 24 #BlueSkyMonday (anything blue) #MacroMonday (any macro) #MountainMonday (mountains) #MinimalMonday (minimalism) #ColorADay (#PinkMon) #NightmareNov (#Eyes) Tuesday, November 25 #RockinTuesday (rocks) #TidesOutTuesday #TagTuesday (graffiti/street art) #AnimalArtTuesday #ColorADay (#BlueTue or #CyanTue) #NightmareNov (#Suffering) Wednesday, November 26 #WaterfallWednesday #WindowsOnWednesday #WackyWednesdayArt (odd/unusual) #ColorADay (#RedWed) #NightmareNov (#Scary) Thursday, November 27 #HumansOfBlueSky (people) #UrbanGaze (anything urban) #PalacesAndGardens (#People) #ColorADay (#YellowThu) #NightmareNov (#Flame) Friday, November 28 #scape (any kind of scape) #FishyFriday #ForestFriday #FoodOnFriday #FlyDay (critters that fly) #ColorADay (#BWFri) #NightmareNov (#Phobia) Saturday, November 29 #BNWmacro #ColorADay (#GreenSat) #BlueSkyArtShow (#Warmth) #NightmareNov (#Hope) Sunday, November 30 #Stunday (stunning) #ImageAndVerse (photos with poems written by you or anyone) #BNWmacro #ColorADay (#OrangeSun) #SelfPortaitSunday (#LookingBack)* #NightmareNov (#WorstNightmare) All Week #ArtYear (any art) #ArtOfSelfPortraiture #BirdOfTheDay (see Alan H or Rob Crank for daily prompt) #ClassicMono (monochrome) #FestiveDailyRobin (robin pics through December 31) #smARTIST (purposeful art) #AlphabetChallenge (WeekVForVowels)** #SensoryArt (#Lines) *Reflect on personal or artistic growth **Subject starts with a vowel
November 24, 2025 at 3:24 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Monday, another week at the chalkface, gotta get my funk on. (Bring back the cod piece?) Word Up?

#Music

youtu.be/MZjAantupsA?...
Cameo - Word Up (Relaid Audio) (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by CameoVEVO
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 12:45 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Daluo Mountains in Wenzhou, #China - Sunday : #MountainMonday #BlueSkyMonday See Alt text for more info
A wide mountain-top view of the Da Luo Mountains in Wenzhou, China, showing rugged rocky peaks in the foreground and a hazy cityscape spread across the distant valley under a bright blue sky. Daluo Mountains – Key Facts Location: Southeast Wenzhou, forming a natural ridge overlooking Ouhai and the city skyline. Elevation: Peaks reach roughly 600–700 metres. Geology: Ancient granite mountains, weathered into smooth, rounded domes over millions of years. History: Long associated with Daoist temples, small shrines, and old stone pathways; considered an area of strong fengshui. Landscape: Subtropical vegetation, pine scrub, bamboo, rocky outcrops, and panoramic views across the Ou River valley. Climate: Known for sea fog, crisp winter views, and dramatic cloud patterns in spring and autumn. Use: Popular hiking area, especially the Daluo Ridge Walk; used by locals for endurance training and photography. Sightlines: On clear days you can see Wenzhou city, distant mountain ranges, and the plains stretching toward Wenzhou Bay.
November 24, 2025 at 12:37 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
I've been slack with the music this sunday so there's The Fall to make up for it

#music

youtu.be/WNIQYVEIPvs?...
The Fall - Dead Beat Descendant HD
YouTube video by ScottishTeeVee
youtu.be
November 23, 2025 at 9:31 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
As we head into the Chinese winter (temps still in the 20's C here in Wenzhou but will get cold soon) The always stunning fields of rape seed flowers (Canola) remind us that spring is not too far away. #stunday #phonetography #yellow
A close-up shot of a single bright yellow rapeseed (canola) flower in sharp focus, standing tall against a vast blurred field of golden blossoms that stretches into the distance beneath a soft blue sky.
November 23, 2025 at 1:29 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
I must remember to but some Grace into my phone playlist - it's a serious omission

#music

youtu.be/yvLn_qC7QAs?...
Grace Jones - Private Life (1980)
YouTube video by Chrissy Darling
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 12:32 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Friday - long day teaching before the weekend. Of course my students will be spellbound. Today, for example, I will be teaching the mysteries of the English Articles and how to use them. They will be entranced, of course.

#music

youtu.be/TjvvK-Rj0WI?...
Siouxsie And The Banshees - Spellbound (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by SiouxsieBansheesVEVO
youtu.be
November 20, 2025 at 11:16 PM