Pamela Huie Otto was born and raised in Southern California. She graduated from the University of California at Irvine in 1970, where she studied French and Art. In the summers, she spent time visiting Europe, and in her travels, Otto became fascinated with the French impressionist artist. She has combined both her love of the outdoors with her love for painting. As a result, she developed her own unique style of building heavy textures using a palette knife. 

Otto has had a 35 year teaching career and currently teaches Humanities and French in Irvine.  As a 37 year resident of Laguna Beach, she has continued to devote her time outside the classroom to her painting. Her work is currently shown in businesses and galleries in Laguna Beach, where she concentrates on presenting powerful images of the Pacific Coast, and especially Laguna Beach. Each summer, Pamela's work is featured in the Sawdust Festival in Laguna Beach, California.

My art preserves the memory of places I've experienced that are of special significance. In my paintings, I strive to share nostalgia and memories with my viewers. Using the palette knife, the images evolve as I explore bright colors. The palette knife technique allows me to mix and merge colors in thick layers that produce texture which increases the dimensional effect and overall excitement in my paintings.

Because of my love of nature and the outdoors, I prefer to work on site as well as from photographs. This, coupled with my impressionistic style, allows me to convey the energy and feeling of the places I live and love to visit.