The Weight of Love

“The Weight of Love” — A Personal Reflection

There’s a quiet kind of love that lives in the corners of my memory. It's an intensity without description. It is powerful—so powerful, it can anchor us even as it lifts us. That’s the kind of love I wanted to capture in my painting, “The Weight of Love.”

In the painting, two elephants rest their heads together—silent, still, connected. Their pose reflects a deep, mutual respect and bond, the kind forged over time and trials. But more than that, it’s a tribute to the kind of love that endures even after someone is gone from this realm.

When I painted this, I wasn’t just thinking about animals or affection. I was thinking about the people I’ve loved—and lost. The parents, family, friends, and beloved pets who shaped me, and whose absence sometimes feels louder than their presence ever was. Their love lives in me still, and I pray it always will, but it carries a weight. Not a burden, but a gravity. A Weight. A reminder of what mattered, and still does.

Love is never light.

It’s joyful, yes. It’s beautiful, often. But it also comes at a cost. A very high cost. To love someone deeply is to open yourself to the possibility—no, the certainty—of pain. The deeper the bond, the harder the loss. That’s the price we pay. And for me, it’s a price I’ve paid willingly, again and again.

Grief, in many ways, is the echo of love. It’s what lingers after the physical presence is gone. It’s a shadow and a shape, a memory and a meaning. I wanted this painting to honor that—the fullness of love, not just the pretty parts.

Why elephants?
Because they remember. Because they mourn. Because they live in herds, connected across generations. Elephants don’t forget those they’ve lost—and neither do we.

If you’ve ever lost someone you love, I hope this painting offers comfort. Not by erasing the sorrow, but by acknowledging it. By saying: This was real. This mattered. And still does.

Love is heavy. But what a gift it is to carry it.

With gratitude,
Lori Owens-Kostiuk

Fur & Feather Art