To obtain an aqueous enamel excellent in safeness, film-forming properties, applicability, coating film gloss, shade, adhesiveness, scratch resistance, feel to the touch, water resistance, dryability, and aging stability by jointly using a nitric ester of a carboxyalkylcellulose having specified degree of substitution and mol.wt. and a methacrylic ester.

A nitric ester (A) of a carboxyalklylcellulose having a degree of nitric ester substitution per anbydrous glucose unit of 0.50-2.30, a degree of carboxyalkyl ether substitution per anhydrous glucose unit of 0.50-1.50, and an average mol.wt. of 5,000-230,000 and a methacrylic ester (B) represented by the formula are jointly used. In the formula, R is 1-20C alkyl; and m and n are each 300-700. The wt. ratio of ingredient A used to ingredient B used is preferably 0.001-20. A polyhydric alcohol is favorable as the solvent. Usually, the amount of water compounded into the aqueous enamel is preferably 0.5-80 wt.%; and the amount of the solvent, 30 wt.% or lower.