Chris, I would like to "second" some comments you quoted
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We're chasing the wrong goal trying to paint in only optimum conditions. One of the biggest problems I see in present day studios is that they have TOO MUCH LIGHT!
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I built my first studio 3 years ago, thinking that I needed to light it all over. First, I put in track lighting as I also wanted to use this as a gallery to display my artwork and use it for painting and teaching. Then I called in a lighting person (of course his job was selling the natural light bulbs etc.) I went with several florescent fixtures with the true/natural light elongated bulbs in them instead of the florescent. I have 2 small windows, sort of facing southwest and 4 ceiling to floor 8 ft. tall slender windows on the opposite wall or northeast, sort of. Anyway, WOW AND DOUBLE WOW. Too, too much. I must add that I had read some about this, but was so thrilled to finally have a studio my own that I was afraid that I was not doing it correctly. The glare was constantly a problem. All I ever read was "north" light (but I could not turn my building in such a way) so I tried to compensate, fearing that I would not have enough lighting as I also taught evening classes.
Since then, I completed yet another renovation of an existing building and decided to use no overhead lighting. I have strategically placed 4 floor lights with capabilities of low lighting to high light + an eastern window. But, I have blinds to adjust accordingly. I found that I need emotionally soft, cozy atmosphere to paint comfortably and that now I have more control over my environment. I also use an extra light on my easel sometimes in the evening, to paint with only lighting on my still life set-up and most all other lighting off.
This is surely a personal thing as I have found that there are no sure set rules and one must find what works for them. I agree that the paintings sold to others usually have no special lighting for them.
By the way,
I now have unhooked the huge lighting fixtures in my "gallery" and use only the track lighting on my artwork as I have transferred all my painting supplies, easels, props, etc. into my new working studio, where I work and teach. The eallery is only to sit and discuss with my clients, etc.