ATLANTA -- Stacy Gensler admits she's no Picasso, but she decided to pick up a paintbrush anyway to raise funds for breast cancer research.

The Ladies' Painting Class calls for more than brushes. Instead, the women strip off their bras and use their 'breast assets' to create a starting point.

Local artist Gypsy Hundley guides the women as they dip their breasts in paint and then create an imprint on canvas.

Gensler came to class with a design in mind.

"My sister's and I symbol to each other is 'heart - I love you' and I'm going to take my breasts and imprint that into the canvas and create my hands," she said.

Her twin sister, Stephanie is battling breast cancer for the second time. And recently, Gensler learned that what she shares with her twin goes deeper than DNA.

"Her oncologist suggested that we get genetic testing completed and we did and I found out that I am BRCA1 positive," she said.

The BRCA1 gene gives Gensler a 90 percent chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime and a 40 percent chance of ovarian cancer.

"My heart sunk. Logically, I knew it was a good possibility and when I heard the news, I was just, 'oh my God, I have cancer," she said.

Whether of not Gensler would have developed cancer, she may never know.

The otherwise healthy 40-year-old didn't want to take any chances, so she decided to have both breasts removed, along with her ovaries and fallopian tubes.

"It was a no brainer for me, but at the same time, it's scary," Gensler said.

But on this night, she wasn't afraid. Instead, she celebrated her body and her bond with her sister.

"I don't see what I'm going through as a difficult thing. I mean, it's something that I'm going to go through and something I'm going to overcome and I'm not going to have to deal with chemotherapy, where Stephanie has been through chemo and she's been through all this strife in her life, and I'm just really more proud of her and she's more proud of me, so I guess we're even," Gensler said.

While recovering from surgery, Gensler said she would look at her painting to remind her of her family's struggles and that there's hope for the future.

"Follow your heart and follow your dreams, because no matter what you've got and what happens in your life, you can always follow your dreams and it'll always work out," Gensler said.

The next Ladies' Painting Class will be Sunday, Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. The class will be held at the offices of It's The Journey, Inc. at 180 Allen Road, Suite 201 South, Atlanta, GA 30328.

The class costs $30 per person and includes all supplies, hors d'oeuvres and drinks. After you have finished your painting, you will have the option to keep you original masterpiece or leave it for an upcoming silent auction benefiting the Atlanta 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer.

To sign up for the class, click here.