The first case: the other party only gives advance payment and does not sign the contract. Before starting painting, Party A will generally pay 30%-50% of the total amount, and the illustrator will start painting after receiving the advance payment. At the same time, inform the other party that if the painting is stopped in the middle of the project, the other party does not want the drawings, and this part of the advance payment will not be refunded. This can at least ensure that your labor is not completely wasted. Pay special attention. In the meantime, don't send the big picture of the original HD picture to the other party. You can give pictures or screenshots with low discrimination during communication. Don't believe what the other party said that it would take a long time for financial approval. Can you give me a picture first? Only when the payment is settled can the original HD picture be given.
The second case: the other party only signed the contract and did not pay the advance payment. This usually happens in the manuscripts of publishing houses, and this kind of painting generally does not pay advance payment. Money may not be received immediately after painting, and the whole process from painting to receiving money takes a long time. So the contract is the only guarantee! Be sure to read every clause carefully before signing! Pay attention to see if there are any mistakes in the specific details such as price, quantity, term, before tax or after tax in the contract. There is also the matter of copyright ownership, so we must see which side it belongs to. We should nip each other's unreasonable demands in the bud in advance.
The third case: a trial draft is needed. You can discuss with the other party whether you can try it in a way that won't take up too much time and can let the other party see the effect. In addition, be careful not to hand over the draft to a high degree of completion. After all, if you fail, you won't be given any money, and the paintings you have worked so hard for will be painted in vain.