Artist Sondra Jonson Cambridge NE

Artist Sondra Jonson Cambridge NE is my cousin by marriage. Growing up there was too big an age difference for us to really hang out together as children. But fast forward to present day and we love hanging out together!

Arriving in rural Cambridge Nebraska

This year we finally got to Cambridge Nebraska to visit with Sondra. We had promised to stay at a campground nearby so we could spend as much time as possible visiting. Problem was, there are no campgrounds in tiny Cambridge! Fortunately their tiny City Park has a few sites with electric. Water is available from one tap in the center of the park and sewer is only at a dump station near the entrance. Knowing we can go at least 5 days without sewer we knew that was going to be our maximum stay.

Song of the Sandhill

Baby crawling on carpet in a green romper on a beige carpet.

Our “adopted grandson” Jude doing the army crawl at 6 months

We certainly made the most of every minute there. We even squeezed in a couple of visits to Kearney to visit with one of Sondra’s son’s, his beautiful wife and their precious 6 month old son Jude. Being with Jude made us feel like grandparents. So we have decided to adopt him as our grandson. Fortunately Grandma Sondra is happy to share him with us!

Sondra’s studio

White cottage with lawn in front is studio of Artist Sondra Jonson Cambridge NE

Welcome to S.L. Jonson Studios

Sculpture of a Standard Poodle lying on mulch in the garden in front of the studio of Sondra Jonson

Sondra’s Poodle sculpture loves lounging in the garden by the studio front door!

Our travels have allowed us to see several of my talented cousins work in various states across the country, including Sioux City IA and Independence MO. So it was awesome to finally see her studio and so much more of her artistry.

Clay sculpture of a young boy sitting on a tree stump by Artist Sondra Jonson Cambridge NE

Eyes of Wonder

Beautiful and talented

Sondra is one of those people who is so beautiful inside and out that people are drawn to her. Her megawatt smile can light up a room!!! So I’m thrilled and proud for you to get to know her a little better.

Clay sculpture wall with history of Nebraska Farm Bureau done by Artist Sondra Jonson Cambridge NE

Clay Sculpture for Nebraska Farm Bureau’s 100th Anniversary. The finished sculpture was cast in bronze.

Clay sculpted head of an aviator with hat and support post through neck created by Artist Sondra Jonson Cambridge NE

Work in progress, the clay sculpture of a soldier’s head for Fly Boy

Early career

My cousin Sondra began planning her career in art at the age of 5! Like me, she was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. She studied at the Philadelphia College of Art, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the Centro de Estudios Hispanicos (in Madrid, Spain), and graduated, Magna Cum Laude, from Bryn Mawr College and the Frudakis Academy of Art.

Trio of sculptures on display at Sondra Jonson's studio

A variety of pieces by Sondra

In 1985 Sondra established her studio in Cambridge NE, where she was raising her 3 sons. She found this old cottage and converted it to suit her needs as a sculptor. From this studio she’s produced the most amazing sculptures of all sizes. Some of her work is small miniatures and pieces range in size all the way up to large monuments. She has clients all across the United States and Europe.

Mosaic Panel

Colorful octagonal mosaic mounted in a beige frame. Created by Artist Sondra Jonson Cambridge NE

In the Evening, mosaic by Sondra Jonson

Signature style

Over time she has developed a signature style which is both classical and contemporary, powerful but still tender and always sensitive to form, color and message.

Clay sculpture on an easel with color photo of what's being created clipped to side.

Religious piece in the works

Her studio has produced a large line of sculptures, from miniatures to monuments, for clients throughout the United States and in Europe. Jonson, a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Bryn Mawr College, and a former student of EvAngelos Frudakis, has developed a signature style which is both classical and contemporary, powerful yet tender, always sensitive to form, color and message.

The Artist Sondra Jonson Cambridge NE holding a bronze bust of a young boy.

My beautiful cousin with one of her stunning sculptures

Once completed, Sondra sends molds of her clay sculptures to the Baer Bronze Fine Art Foundry. There the sculpture is cast in bronze. According to Sondra: “The casting of a sculpture is an amazing process. It is exciting to see your creation come to life.

Bronze bust of a young girl on black marble rectangle at Sondra Jonson's studio

Beautiful child

If you want you can learn more about the foundry and the casting process by visiting Baer Bronze.

Current work

Clay sculpture of a priest in his robes holding a small Madonna statue.

Saint Maximilian Kolbe

Rear view of clay statue of a priest in Sondra Jonson's studio

Saint Kolbe from the rear

One of the pieces that impressed me the most is one she is working on for the Catholic Church. It is a statue of Saint Maximilian Kolbe. Sondra’s attention to detail and to telling his story through her artistry is extraordinary. She really takes the time to get to know her subject!

This saint, who is being honored with this piece, spent time in a concentration camp during Hitler’s regime. So she’s depicting him with a striped “camp” shirt slung over his shoulder. After we left she got back to work and added the stripes and final details. I look forward to seeing this magnificent sculpture cast in bronze!!!

Clay sculpture of a large bird with wings spread created by Artist Sondra Jonson Cambridge NE

The clay model of the Song of the Sandhill

Water pump in yard with lawn and yellow flowers at studio of Artist Sondra Jonson Cambridge NE

Old water pump in studio back yard

Steve and I look forward to many more stops in Cambridge to visit with my sweet cousin, talented artist Sondra Jonson We also can’t wait to spend more time watching our “grandson” Jude growing up.