Locate the artist's website or personal information. Often artists have personal websites for their work, where you can find an email address or phone number for the person responsible for the artwork you would like to use online.
Contact the artist directly to ask for permission. A written letter is the most professional way to obtain permission, but a phone call or email might also suffice. Introduce yourself, compliment the artist, then explain what you would like to use their artwork for. Offer terms for displaying the artwork, such as using a photo on your blog for three months. Be polite and straightforward in your contact.
Ask permission from the responsible party if the artist in neither alive nor managing his works of art. For instance, in some cases you may need to ask the museum that houses the artwork or contact an artist's agent instead.
Cite the artwork properly on your website. If possible, a link to the artist's website or the original artwork is helpful and considerate. You might also use the proper citation guidelines for works of art, including the artist's name, the name of the piece, the year it was created and other pertinent information, such as the medium. This shows you respect the artist's work and are giving proper credit.
Select another piece of artwork if the artist, agent or responsible party refuses to allow you license to use a certain piece online. Even if it's possible to locate the piece elsewhere on other websites and blogs, using artwork without permission is unlawful. However, using works in the public domain without permission is legal. Since 1978, works pass into the public domain 70 years after the artist's death or 120 years of the work's creation.