Golly you guys are turning into softies I guess until you know it's always better to err on the side of caution though. So eager to help, but clearly not on the same page... le sigh...
I need to update this before a decision is reached. I've been doing a bit more testing on painting focused paintings, and I may have been slightly mistaken about how they work. I've got a Sim at level 10 logic, and he's put out nothing but "good" focused paintings on a standard easel. Very focused the entire time of painting, with Perfectionist as a trait.
So it is possible that while painting focused paintings levels your logic skill, and they are more restricted on how you can paint them (have to be focused no matter what, can't paint them with Painting aspiration reward) they might still be based on your painting skill for quality.
I'll try to open up a world with Sim that has the best easel and also has Painting + Logic maxed and see what I get.
Edit: I've tested it on a Sim with a basic Easel, Logic 3 (went to 5 as I tested), Painting 10, the Painting Aspiration reward, Perfectionist, and the purchased reward that makes Masterpieces more likely, nothing but "good" still. I'm sure I got a Focused masterpiece in a previous game but I'm outta time. I'll test more tonight.