Captured in color pencil and airbrush, the portrait depicts some of Dooley's most memorable moments
of his 40-year career as coach and athletic director.
"I thought it would be a good thing to honor him for his years of dedication, and Georgia fans would
want that on their wall," Modak said.
A longtime Georgia fan, he had previously painted UGA football scenes such as "The Catch," a work that
shows running back Verron Haynes grabbing the winning touchdown pass against Tennessee in 2001.
But he said he was inspired to undertake the project last fall after news of Dooley's retirement surfaced.
"I did a lot of prayer, then I talked to UGA directly," he said.
The University gave Modak the green light and Dooley, whose last day is June 30, granted the project his
blessing in December.
Before Modak could start on the portrait, he had to decide what images to put in the painting.
As part of that process, he spent hours in the Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall in Athens sifting through hundreds
of photographs from Dooley's career. He also lead on the advice of longtime friend and sports journalist Mike Webber.
After selecting images to incorporate into the work, he communicated with Dooley to see what images the
coaching legend wanted to see in the piece.
In January, Modak began the job working from his drafting table in the basement of his home. Fueled on coffee
and the low hum of a radio propped in the corner, he logged more than 150 hours on the portrait.
When asked if he felt pressure painting the portrait of one of Georgia's most recognizable and well-liked
figures, Modak said he deferred his anxiety to a higher authority.
"Obviously God gave me the talent and gave me the gift I have. I want to share that gift and give him the
glory. I guess that's why I wasn't nervous," he said.
His hard work and confidence paid off. The portrait, which contains 14 images, should take Georgia fans
back to any given Saturday at Sanford Stadium.
In one image, a sense of jubilation can be sensed as Dooley, hoisted on the shoulders of players, leans
over to shake the hand of Alabama coach Bear Bryant after the Bulldogs upset the Crimson Tide in 1965.
In another image, Dooley is pictured with former athletic director Joel Eaves, who hired Dooley in 1964.
That illustration, which Dooley handpicked, captures the ease and respect between the two men.
Modak unveiled the portrait to Dooley a few weeks ago and said the coach was very happy with the work.
"It definitely was a relief that he liked it," Modak said.
The devotion that Modak put into the painting might seem unusual for an art student from Ohio. But for
Modak, who move to Atlanta in 1984 to attend the Art Institute of Atlanta, sports and art have always had a
place in his heart.
He painted since he was 7 and his father, Dan, played tackle for Notre Dame on the 1949 national championship team.
But if UGA and the Fighting Irish played today, "I would be wearing red and black and barking," Modak said.
His other clients include the Atlanta Falcons, Coca-Cola, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Notre Dame and
Youngstown State. He is married to the former Lillian Jacumin and the couple has two children, Marielle, nine,
and Thomas, who is five. Modak will be at the annual G-Day game at the Georgia Bookstore April 17 and at Fanatic
Fans at the Mall of Georgia May 8 from noon to 2 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.kmodak.com.
