Cecilie paints juxtaposing fields of color, shape, and line, pieced, layered and manipulated intentionally and accidentally. Emotions and memories drive the introduction and subtraction of color, shape, and line.

The color and her sensibilities are informed by memories of the lush Southern California orange groves of her childhood, and later, by the Central Valley’s expansive cerulean skies, and its abundant farms, fields, and orchards. No less an influence are the azure waters and golden hills of the San Francisco Bay Area where she currently resides.

Cecilie Starin trained to be a fine art painter at the University of California at Davis under revered California artists Wayne Thiebaud, Bob Arneson, William Wiley, Roy De Forest and Manuel Neri.  She later received her BFA from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena where she studied graphic design and illustration. After an initial career in clothing design, she attended the University of California at Berkeley Interior Design Program and focused her study on architecture and interiors.

Cecilie’s years as a designer at Levis Strauss & Co and Smith & Hawken reinforce her love of denim blues and weathered textures and fabrics.

During her many years as a high-end interior residential designer, she had the privilege of being invited to participate in seven highly competitive Bay Area Decorator Showcases. In each of those, she featured works by noted  artists in her interiors. She also regularly consulted with her clients about artworks for their homes.

Cecilie has now returned to her first love, painting.

Curated Projects

San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2006

• Featured Artist: Max Beckman

San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2008

• Featured Artist: Jean Leon Gerome (Orientalist)

San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2009

• Featured Artists: Frank Lobdell, Martin Pruyear, Elmer Bishoff

San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2010

• Featured Artist: Wayne Thiebaud

San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2012/2013

• Featured Artists: Walter Kuhlman, Frank Lobdell

San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2015

• Featured Artist: Ian Ross (International/Bay Area Street Artist)

San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2017

• Featured Artist: Alicia McCarthy (San Francisco Mission School)

Education

UC Davis: Major Fine Art and Painting 1967-1972

Art Center College of Design: Major Graphic Design/Illustration 1972-1975 BFA

University of California at Berkeley: Interior Design Program 2002-2004