Maya is Godly for Realism I have seen people make photorealistic scenes but Its not that great for Abstract. Cinema 4D is a Easy Efficent Way for animating 3d and Making abstracts.3ds Max can make anything semi-easy. Realism or Abstract. But not well as Maya (Realism).Bryce is EASIEST for making abstracts , you make Torus there and there give material add some lighting and RENDER
Allways do Bryce as your first 3d Program, considering its limited to what you can do.