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
trebornotrub.bsky.social
#ArtAdventCalendar #AnimalArtTuesday #ArtYear #art #EastCoastKin #Hare
A loose, expressive watercolor and ink illustration of a hare facing forward. The hare has tall, upright ears with light brown and grey shading, and long, delicate whiskers extending far out from its cheeks. Its eyes are small and dark, giving it a curious, gentle expression. The body is sketched with quick, fluid ink lines, filled in with soft washes of brown, grey, and touches of pink. The background is a blend of muted pastel colors—pale greens, yellows, and peach tones—creating a dreamy, atmospheric backdrop that contrasts with the detailed face. The overall style feels playful and slightly whimsical, with visible brush textures on the watercolor paper.
December 8, 2025 at 11:14 PM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
#ArtAdventCalendar Day 8 - It's "All in the Numbers" and coincidentally only 8 teaching days left in the semester before the loooong winter break and Chinese New Year. #art #artyear #EastCoastKin Acrylic, collage, pens (And 8 is a lucky number in China, so be #lucky)
A vibrant mixed-media abstract artwork filled with layered colours, numbers, and symbolic shapes. The background is a chaotic blend of bright reds, yellows, greens, blues, and pinks, applied with thick brushstrokes and textured paint. Across the centre, a diagonal black strip contains the collaged words “Breaking Ice” in bold green and white lettering. Scattered throughout the piece are hand-drawn and printed numbers—“24,” “19,” “10,” “0741,” and grids of crossed-out digits—suggesting puzzles or coded systems. A large red star bursts in the upper left corner, while arrows, musical notes, and geometric shapes appear around the canvas. Some sections look scraped or scratched, exposing layers beneath. The overall effect is energetic and noisy, as if representing mathematical chaos or the feeling of trying to decode a hidden message.
December 8, 2025 at 12:58 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Taking an afternoon stroll. The orange vendor selling oranges from Sichuan - its my favourite time of year. It's still warm and the sky is a glorious blue. You can see the apartment blocks we live in in Pic 3. And finally the later afternoon winter sun lights up the trees. #China #Wenzhou #Life
A man and a woman stand beside a small three-wheeled blue truck converted into a fruit stall. The truck bed is overflowing with bright orange mandarins piled high, with a few red netted fruit bags and a small metal scale resting on top. The man on the left is holding a peeled orange segment in his hand as if offering it, while the woman on the right chooses fruit from the pile. The scene takes place in a sunny residential community with grass, trees turning yellow in autumn, and apartment buildings in the background. Morning light casts long shadows on the ground. A calm, mirror-smooth river runs through a landscaped area with trees lining both banks. Their autumn leaves in shades of green, gold, and rust reflect clearly in the water. In the distance, layers of blue-grey mountains rise under a clear blue sky. A small bridge crosses the river near the centre of the image, and lamp posts line the roads on both sides. The overall scene is quiet, spacious, and peaceful, with strong reflections making the landscape appear doubled. A row of tall modern apartment towers stands on the left side of a tree-lined road. The buildings are pale beige with many windows catching the late-day light. In front of them, autumn trees with reddish-brown leaves line the pavement. Behind the buildings, mountains rise sharply, their shapes softened by early evening light. Overhead, the sky is pale blue and cloudless, creating a contrast between the natural mountain skyline and the vertical lines of the tower blocks. This is the neighbourhood where I live. A wide pedestrian walkway and road stretch into the distance, bordered by neatly planted trees whose leaves glow orange and gold in the warm late-afternoon sun. The mountains behind the scene are darkening into silhouette. On the right side are campus buildings with modern facades, street lamps, and signs. Cars move slowly along the road, and a few people are visible near the walkway. The sunlight slants across the ground, colouring the whole scene in soft amber tones.
December 7, 2025 at 9:24 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
#stunday A huge Figus (Banyan) tree in a local community, near where I live, around 800 years old. These trees are venerated and protected and in the hot summers provide protective and cooling shade.
An enormous ancient banyan tree in a neighbourhood of Ou’hai, Wenzhou, its massive twisting trunks painted white at the base and spreading out beneath thick green foliage. Power cables run across the tree’s branches, and a man holding an umbrella stands nearby on the wet pavement, with parked cars and seated residents in the background. The tree is estimated to be around 800 years old.
December 7, 2025 at 12:47 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
#ArtAdventCalendar Day 7

It's Sunday so it's coffee time
A loose, colourful ink illustration of a tall red coffee pot with a curled handle and steaming spout, sitting beside a small striped cup of hot coffee on a matching saucer. The objects rest on a blue tabletop against a plain white background.
December 7, 2025 at 12:23 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Fluffy bum has scored the box. Kitten wants it. #Caturday
Two cats. One white and fluffy in a box， the other black outside the box they are face to face conflict is imminent
December 6, 2025 at 11:32 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Here's a picture of my students doing "group" work practicing for their final presentation. It made me smile. #mountains #students #china #academicsky
Four students sit together on a bench in a corridor, working in a group while facing a balcony view of tree-covered hills and twin mountain peaks in Ou’hai, Wenzhou. The scene is framed by the doorway, with soft winter light coming from outside.
December 6, 2025 at 12:29 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
#ArtAdventCalendar Day 6 #XtraXmas #geese #ArtYear #art #EastCoastKin Ink and Oil Pastel on paper.
Abstract ink-and-pastel painting of a goose standing in profile. The bird’s body is washed with soft greens, purples, and yellows, with loose black splatters and scribbled line work adding texture. Tall, thin ink marks on the right suggest grasses or reeds. The background is mostly white with faint smudges and colour streaks, giving the piece an airy, expressive feel.
December 6, 2025 at 12:13 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
#Scape - The Yangtze River, Nanjing, China
A high-angle view of a wide, hazy river crowded with dozens of cargo ships and tankers anchored or moving slowly across the water. Below, industrial buildings, storage tanks, and a dock area line the shoreline, partially bordered by trees and vegetation. The distant horizon is faded due to mist or pollution, giving the entire scene a muted, soft appearance.
December 4, 2025 at 11:01 PM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Day 5 #ArtAdventCalendar Good wishes to all this season
Close-up of small laminated prayer cards hanging from a tree branch in a forested area. Each card is attached with a red or yellow string, and handwritten Chinese characters are faintly visible on their faded surfaces. The background is softly blurred with green foliage, giving the scene a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.
December 4, 2025 at 10:52 PM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Day 4 #ArtAdventCalendar -Trees feature a lot during advent/Christmas so let me introduce you to some #trees that have seen a lot of Christmases come & go
1. 411 year old Ginko at a local temple
2. Figus 312 years old
3. Figus 815 years old. (see alt) Each tree has a plaque honouring and dating it
A 411-year-old ginkgo tree stands beside a stone staircase in Ou’hai District, Wenzhou, China. Its golden leaves carpet the steps below, while the upper branches spread above the temple buildings surrounding it. A 312-year-old ficus tree fills the far end of a narrow village road in Ou’hai District, Wenzhou, China. Its dense canopy creates a dramatic dark archway contrasting with the light sky above. An immense 812-year-old ficus tree dominates an intersection in Ou’hai District, Wenzhou, China. The sun sets behind its huge canopy, casting long shadows across the pedestrian crossing and surrounding buildings. The ficus trees in Wenzhou are almost always from one of two famous species found throughout southern China: ✅ Ficus microcarpa Common names: Chinese Banyan Indian Laurel Fig Curtain Fig 榕树 Róngshù (Chinese) This is the species most commonly associated with ancient, massive, wide-canopied trees in Fujian, Zhejiang (including Wenzhou), Guangdong, and Taiwan. It matches the look of the trees in your photos: enormous canopy, thick branching structure, wide shade coverage, and deep cultural significance. Why it’s almost certainly Ficus microcarpa It is the dominant species of ancient banyan trees recorded in Zhejiang Province. Wenzhou city has documented many heritage trees (812 years, 500 years, 300 years, etc.), almost all banyans classified under Ficus microcarpa. The shape and canopy structure in your images match this species exactly. Full scientific name Ficus microcarpa L. f.
December 4, 2025 at 12:20 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Gnome Day 3 #ArtAdventCalendar #art #artyear #EastCoastKin #Gnome
A festive Christmas gnome illustration with a tall green hat topped by a pom-pom, a pink round nose, and a long, scribbled black beard. The background is filled with colourful paint splatters in green, red, gold, and silver, giving the piece a lively holiday feel. Small holly sprigs with red berries appear in the bottom corners.
December 3, 2025 at 12:52 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Ok, I'm late to the game. Its Dec 2 here, Ive just finished work, its around 19:00 Hrs (7pm) I've been teaching since 08:30 hrs. (and its only coffee keeping me going.) #ArtAdventCalendar #art #coffee Is there a list, a theme? What gives Day 2 I suppose.
A loose sketch of a coffee cup. Ink on paper.
December 2, 2025 at 11:02 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Cockeral #AnimlaArtTuesday #BlueTue #art #artyear #EastCoastKin #rooster #Cockeral #artist
A vibrant abstract painting of a cockerel, featuring bold splashes of blue, red, yellow, and black. The rooster’s red comb and expressive eye stand out against energetic brushstrokes and ink splatters, giving the piece a lively, dynamic feel.
December 1, 2025 at 11:05 PM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
It's December 1st and I've been gnoming crazy #gnomes #christmas #christmasart #xmas #xmasart #art #artyear #eastcoastkin (There's 5 more if you want to see em.)
A hand-painted gnome with a tall red hat covered in white spots, a round orange nose, a long white beard, and a red body with small black shoes. A blue-themed gnome wearing a tall blue hat decorated with lighter blue spots, a red nose, long white beard, and matching blue body with small red shoes. A gnome painted in grey tones, featuring a tall floppy grey hat with a pom-pom, a round orange nose, long white beard, and dark boots. A festive gnome with a red-and-white striped hat, orange nose, long white beard, green rounded body, and small red shoes.
December 1, 2025 at 4:39 AM
trebornotrub.bsky.social
Red bridge structures and cranes rise from a bridge building "factory" area behind a blue wall, with factory buildings and hazy mountains silhouetted by the setting sun in the background in Wenzhou, #China #MountainMonday #BlueSkyMonday
In Wenzhou, China, red bridge structures and cranes rise from a bridge building "factory" area behind a blue wall, with factory buildings and hazy mountains silhouetted by the setting sun in the background.
December 1, 2025 at 1:01 AM
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
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
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
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