Hidden behind the Waltham commuter rail stop looms several large brick, industrial-looking buildings. Inside this enormous complex that looks over the Charles River, there was a bustling cotton and wool factory 200 years ago. Now the buildings serve a different purpose: Instead of cotton looms there are canvassed easels and paints, and instead of factory workers, there are artists. The factory, now the Waltham Mills Artists Association, was repurposed as a space for art studios over 30 years ago.

In 1977, a group of artists, led by painter Andy Haley, got together and decided to rehabilitate the vacant factory to create studio spaces. The factory, built in 1888 and once the home to the Boston Manufacturing Company, now houses more than 70 artists.

"We have usually a longer [wait] list than there are openings," said artist and Open Studios Event Coordinator Michelle Arnold Paine on the high demand for studios at Waltham Mills. According to a press release by the WMAA, the association is "one of Greater Boston's oldest artists' communities." It was also one of the first mills to be revamped into a space for art studios in the area. In the space's earlier stages, garment workers were still working on several of the floors as the artists created their pieces in other parts of the building.

The space played a large role in revitalizing downtown Waltham by bringing a new crowd of artists and supporters to the town. The buildings have varying types of studio spaces, including live-in studios. With their high ceilings and large windows, the former wool mill buildings are a perfect inspiration for the artists.

Painter Liza Bingham has been renting out studio space for about four years, after a colleague of hers in the master's program at the Museum of Fine Arts suggested it to her. She said in an interview with justArts, "I have a view of the Charles. … It's gorgeous. … I put the painting on the wall and saw variations of colors in it that I hadn't seen [before], that I hadn't seen at home, because this light is so special."

The studios have made a name for themselves in the Greater Boston art scene. New artists are constantly renting out spaces, despite the difficult economy. Helen Jacobson, who has painted at the WMAA for two years now, says this has a lot to do with the prestige of the building.

"An artist I know, he's very serious, more than I. [He said,] ‘It's so great you got into a place that's real.' That's not to say that there aren't other places, but it has that reputation," said Jacobson, who paints women's figures.

Many of the artists at the studios previously had workspaces in their homes but noted that there is something to be said for working alongside other artists. Many of the studios are shared between two artists, sectioned off by cubicle-style walls. The artists do not always interact with each other. They all work on different schedules, but the studios are cooperatively owned and the artists work together to discuss logistics. There are clear benefits to the communal work environment.

"It's nice because, especially if you're a painter, it's a really solitary endeavor, so it's nice to have at least someone that you can sort of say hello to or say, ‘You know, I'm having trouble with this. Can you come take a look?' [It's] a community for mutual encouragement but also mutual opportunity as well," explained Paine.

The Open Studios, an annual event during which community members can see the studios, also brings benefits to the artists. During the Open Studios weekend, the studios see swarms of visitors.

"As an artist, that's good, because you have a lot of people coming through to see your work, and people that might be interested in purchasing," said Paine. The high caliber of artists in the buildings help the artists at different levels get exposure they might not have gotten. Paine continued, "I know there is at least one artist here that shows on Newbury Street, so then you know there's also a higher caliber audience coming through too. So that I could only hope that his gallery director comes to Open Studios."

This access to exposure is essential for artists. Still, the studio attracts its creative inhabitants for other reasons as well. Many of the artists are drawn to Waltham not only for the river and its convenient location on the commuter rail but because the city offers a lot of unexpected inspiration.

"I like working in a place that has history. So you can look at … some of these steps, and you can see how much they've been worn down by so many workers," said Paine.

Kelly Harwood, an artist from Weston and a member of the studios for the past three years, finds inspiration in the diverse culture in Waltham. "I just love the feel of downtown Waltham, Moody Street. It feels very unsettled and you can kind of do anything. There's a great mix. [There is] a nice roughness in Waltham," Harwood said.

All the studios are for working, and aren't very conducive to hosting events, but if Brandeis students wanted to become involved, they could volunteer at the Open Studios event. When asked about the relationship between University students and the WMAA, Paine said, "I would say Open Studios would be the beginning of the dialogue."