Don't Be Timid shows a giantess from the point of view of inside a fridge as she reaches for a large white cake. The figure's hands are dramatically contorted, hungrily reaching up to grab the treat. Striations across the icing on top of the cake heighten the drama, as does the dramatic cropping off of the figure's head. Sterling has described the painting as being made to capture the complex feelings she has towards depictions of domestic indulgence popularised by TV chefs. Seduction and longing are combined with an awareness of the mixed signals popular culture gives. Perfection is both approachable and familiar, yet highly manufactured and always just out of reach.