Photo submitted
Pictured is Sullivan native Patrick Blythe seen behind his eight foot tall bronze sculpture titled, “Harvest” which has been installed in the median of El Paseo, between Sage and Ocotilla in Palm Desert, Calif.

In retirement Patrick Blythe realizes passion

June 24, 2015

by Joash Tiarks
Reporting in Sullivan

“A great fire burns within me, but no one stops to warm themselves at it, and passers-by only see a wisp of smoke”

-Vincent van Gogh

To live with such an internal fire of passion would indeed be difficult, especially if it had to remain dormant for many years. The venting of van Gogh’s passion came later in his life and many appreciate the works of art it birthed.
A similar circumstance surrounds one of Sullivan’s own sons in the person of Patrick Blythe, now of Palm Desert, Calif.
Much like Van Gogh, Blythe started in a business career, suppressing a deep creative passion in favor of a more stable career and home life. It was not until his retirement in 2002 that Blythe was able to give vent to the obsession that had been smoldering in his soul for 50 years.
“I spent years just going to art museums and enjoying the work of other artists,” he explained, “I was so obsessed with art that I really just had to stop doing it(myself). It was like a drug almost.”
Blythe explained that once he started a painting or project, he found himself wanting to do nothing else until it was done, brushing family and work aside to perfectly impart his impressions. So, he had to quit for a while, cold turkey.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.