Q&A with Jeff Greenspan

Hello. I'm Jeff Greenspan. I'm an artist, improvisor, and freelance Creative Director/Copywriter living in NYC.

What tools do you use to organize your work?

If by organize, you meant create - I work in many mediums and use a wide range of tools to create work. My professional work is often copy-based, or consists of writing to explain or present an idea. For this, I work almost exclusively with Google Docs and Google Drive. My personal projects vary from the sculptural to the digital. One project may find me learning how to use a professional football field line-maker, while another might have me simply employing Photoshop. In many of these instances I collaborate with other artists and experts, and they bring their own tools to bear upon the projects as well.

What is your ideal work environment?

When it comes to coming up with ideas, I prefer to walk around. Especially if I'm working with a project partner. I'm not very good at coming up with ideas around a table or in an office, or while staring at a blank notepad. I prefer to get outside and walk. I live in NYC, so there's often something taking place outside that will spark a new train of thought. When it comes to sitting down and writing the ideas out or developing them in detail, I like being in a coffee shop or in my apartment with some music. The concentration required to block out the ambient noise at a coffee shop, or the music in my apartment, helps keep me focused.

Where does your inspiration come from?

Museums and galleries are huge arenas of inspiration for me. Also, just looking around at what's going on in the world and make fun of it usually leads me to say "Hey, somebody should do "blank," in response to what's going on. Then I realize "I' am the somebody who will have to do it.

Who are the people you admire most?

I really admire anyone who doesn't punch me in the face. I have to hand it to these people, they're great. I can be quite intolerable at times, and I'm constantly in awe of those who don't take matters into their own hands. Outside of these pacifists there are quite a few artists and colleagues whose work I find quite inspirational: Ivan Cash, Andrew Tider, Jon Burgerman, Michael Lacher, Ben Barry, Chris Baker, Ji Lee, and Clarina Bezzola are a few who quickly come to mind.