No trip to downtown Madison is complete without a stop into Blue Apple Books, where owner Robin Gladden seems to know just about everyone and every story connected to the community. Tucked among the shelves are pieces of local history, conversations waiting to happen, and occasionally, unexpected treasures. During one particular visit, a vibrant painting of an old countryside barn immediately caught our attention. The detail, warmth, and nostalgia within the piece sparked curiosity, and that’s where the story of local artist Pat Modica begins.
At nearly 80 years old, Pat spends many of his evenings ushering at Rocket City Trash Pandas baseball games, a role he genuinely enjoys. “I get to relive my youth and the memories of going to Dodgers games growing up,” Pat says with a smile. For him, baseball brings back simpler times and cherished childhood memories, but the ballpark isn’t the only place where he revisits the past.
“Painting is a pastime for me,” explains Pat. “I like to recreate my favorite memories from photos I’ve taken at different points throughout my life.” What started decades ago as learning to sketch bushes, trees, and architectural details in college eventually grew into a fulfilling retirement hobby that now fills his days with creativity and purpose.
Pat attended architecture school at Cal Poly during a time when drafting and design were completed entirely by hand. “There were no computers to design elements for us in the ‘60s,” he recalls. “We learned to add depth and detail to our drawings manually. That’s when I became somewhat ‘photographic’ in my work.” That attention to detail is evident in every painting he creates today, from weathered wooden barns to peaceful riverside landscapes.
Since retiring, Pat has intentionally stayed busy, determined, as he jokingly says, to keep himself “out of the recliner.” Over the years, he has explored several creative hobbies, including crafting handmade birdhouses from recycled materials. More recently, however, he transitioned into painting, turning snapshots from his travels and life experiences into artwork for him and his wife to enjoy.
Pat’s paintings capture scenes from all over the country and beyond. Coastal beach views inspired by trips to Panama City, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic hang alongside landscapes from Central California and rustic barns reminiscent of his time living in North Dakota. “I love old barns and buildings,” says Pat. “They have character and history behind them.”
For Pat, painting is about far more than simply creating art. It is a way to preserve memories, revisit meaningful places, and continue learning something new later in life. Each canvas reflects moments he has experienced and details he never wants to forget.
His advice to others is simple but meaningful: “Get started on whatever you are interested in trying. If you get tired of it, try something else. Take the photos. Pay attention to detail. Don’t waste time because life goes by too quickly.”
Pat Modica is proof that creativity has no age limit.
"Take the photos. Pay attention to detail. Don’t waste time because life goes by too quickly.”
For Pat Modica, painting isn’t about perfection or monetization. He just enjoys the challenge and keeping busy, and he has a passion for preserving memories. Whether crafting birdhouses, ushering baseball games, or painting scenes from old photographs, Pat believes there’s always value in trying something new that excites you.