Well, the original tale didn't mention at any point that Rapunzel liked painting. On the other hand, It's easy to see why they made her a painter: Being locked in a tower with no internet and all, It's almost certain that she would pick up either painting, writing, sculpture or something like that as a hobbie. Since painting is the most visually impressive, they went with that. Besides that, both movies have pretty much nothing in common.

What I do remember of Barbie Rapunzel was that my sister got this big-ass doll of it.

Even as a boy I found that thing pretty awesome.