Shapes and Symbols

This started as an exercise with light and dark values and shapes. I started rendering it just to see what happens and then I started thinking about symbols (ie, dots for eyes and a shape for a mouth; I recently reread Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics and he talks about the face as a symbol) and without them, all we can see are maybe materials, maybe something in three dimensions, but nothing really to ground our focal point.

I realize that some people are more intrigued by pure abstract shapes, devoid of symbolism and others (like myself) are very interested in these symbols. It's a lot of fun to play with.