Portrait of The Rock!

Portrait of The Rock!

Orion Gustafson, 14, drew two sketches of actor Dwayne Johnson, and now the movie star is talking about hiring him for more work.

By  Stefano EspositoJun 6, 2025, 12:26pm CDT

Vincent van Gogh died at the age of 37 a virtual unknown. Ditto for Johannes Vermeer (of “Girl with a Pearl Earring” fame), who left this world at the age of 43.

At 14, Evanston teen Orion Gustafson is already a famous artist.

That’s because Orion has received the 21st century equivalent of royal patronage: a gushing endorsement from movie superstar Dwayne Johnson, aka “The Rock.”

“Orion Gustafson. Let’s all remember this name. This kid is gonna move the world one day,” Johnson said in an Instagram post last month.

Earlier this year, Orion, who has been drawn to art since he was little, drew two pencil sketches of Johnson and sent one original and one print to the actor for his birthday.

“He’s just a really funny guy. I like his movies, and I just like him overall,” Orion, who recently graduated from McCracken Middle School in Skokie, told the Sun-Times this week.

How did the sketches reach the “Jumanji” actor rather than an assistant with a stack of signed photographs and a form letter?

One of Orion’s grandparents happens to know Johnson’s mother-in-law.

But more importantly, Orion’s work is, by any standard, jaw-dropping — certainly for a 14-year-old. Noble, pensive and fierce faces stare back at the viewer from the page. Other subjects include the late actor Chadwick Boseman, President Barack Obama and rapper Drake.

Although he’s been drawing for as long as he remembers, Orion has only recently been taking it “more seriously.”

Portrait of The Rock!

His dad, Jamie Gustafson, a professional artist, has been giving his son tips.

“Working from a lighter color and layering them together because it’s easier to add more color than to take away,” Orion explained.

He said he can see himself doing artwork as a job: “It doesn’t feel like work to me. It’s something I really enjoy doing. If I have the opportunity to make it a career later, I would like to do that.”

Orion devoted about 30 hours to the main portrait of Johnson (the other drawing features the actor and his dog).

“I liked the contrast in the lighting on his face. So I picked that one,” Orion said.

Gustafson is very proud of his child.

“He’s such a talented kid. So none of it is any surprise to us. It was just kind of cool to see him get recognized for it,” he said.

Orion said it was slightly easier to draw Johnson than someone with plentiful locks.

“I haven’t really got good at drawing hair, and he doesn’t have that much hair,” Orion said.

After receiving his gifts, Johnson texted Orion to say thank you. Then last month, the actor spoke at length in an Instagram post about the young artist.

“These are beautiful. I can see how you put your heart into every pencil stroke. Look at the detail,” Johnson said.

Word quickly spread at Orion’s school, where he became an instant celebrity.

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