Michele Cassou grew up in the south of France. She moved to Paris as a young adult to study law, literature, and art. She discovered a way to express herself spontaneously and without the need for formal instruction after observing toddlers paint. Painting had been her full-time interest by the time she was in her early twenties. Her many years of painting for herself gave way to a unique approach to creativity, and her strong desire to share her work prompted her to collaborate with others and lead groups through the creative process.

She created the Painting Experience Studio in San Francisco in 1976, and through ongoing classes and seminars, as well as in centers around the United States, she has touched the lives of many individuals. In the San Francisco Bay region, she continues to paint and teach.