Burned out after a career in the restaurant industry, Gene Pellegrene launched the house-painting company five years ago so he could have flexible hours that would allow him time to make art. He also wanted to hire other working artists and pay them a decent wage.

Artist Painters was formed 10 years ago. Painting houses is a past time fill-in of a lot people in the creative fields. I felt that living in a large city like Chicago, I could find very qualified artists that were also very proficient house painters. They have to be qualified in both areas or the concept doesn’t work.

Following a bout with a physical injury that left him in what he called a "rough" emotional and financial state, Pellegrene was inspired by his experience to start a project to to help homeless people in his Logan Square neighborhood.