Becoming an artist began at age eight when Anou drew landscapes, portraits, and animals. Her mother supported her interest and talent and sent her to MOMA art school in New York. Later, she attended Pels Art school on Broadway, the Art Students League of New York, and the William Schultz art school in Pittsfield.

She attended Bennington College for art in 1975 and stood out as one of only three representational painters in her class. During a summer break, she attended an atelier in Paris, and had the honor of being taught by a master artist. She experimented with symbolism and eventually turned her attention to various representational subjects such as still lives, landscapes, portraits, and even intricate depictions of squished clay.

After graduation, she returned to NYC to continue her education at the Art Students League. Her interest in figurative painting and its techniques persisted. Her teachers were Robert Brackman, Daniel Greene, and Robert Beverly Hale. She also received private instruction from a renowned Russian classical artist and attended a class taught by Elen Lanyon at the School of Visual Arts.

In 1986, she attended Architecture School at City College at the University of the City of New York for a degree in Architecture. She moved to Santa Fe in 1989 and began a successful career in architectural drafting, running her own business.

Since 2009 she has continued her artistic studies at the Santa Fe Community College. She has diversified into printmaking, watercolor, collage, acrylics, oils, and assemblage. Her painting has evolved to a blend of abstract and representational styles. Using Beethoven's music for inspiration and a limited color palette for harmony, she integrates various techniques, enabling her exploration of compositions, colors, gestures, and subjects.