After another holistic walking meditation during my lunch break, I've realized a fundamental difference between my work as a programmer and struggle as an artist.
As a programmer, I have taken an impact-first approach.
I think as an artist, I've taken a quality first approach. The big exception is with portrait work, which I have always focused on starting with impact (so it's acceptable as a product) than adding as much detail as possible as an afterthought to make doing the project worthwhile.
I think my current work in progress is accidentlly steering towards an impact first approach. Which may just be my means to success and self-validation.