Complex sentence: Born in Buffalo, New York, Russell studied at the Chicago Art Institute and then began working as a freelance artist, arriving in New York City just prior to World War I and held the position of sports editor for "Leatherneck Magazine".
Split into simpler sentences: Born in Buffalo, New York, Russell studied at the Chicago Art Institute and began working as a freelance artist. Just prior to World War I, he arrived in New York City, where he held the position of sports editor for "Leatherneck Magazine".