NEW MICHAEL JACKSON PHOTOS HIT BOOKSHELVES: 'OPUS' features never-before-seen images of singer from artist Nate Giorgio.

       The book, officially sanctioned by Jackson's estate, also features drawings of Jackson done by other artists, as well as essays about the superstar written by friends and those who worked with Jackson over the years, from Motown founder Berry Gordy and Paula Abdul to John Landis and David Blaine.

       Giorgio said he met with Jackson, just days before the singer's death in June. The pop icon wanted Giorgio to create dazzling murals of his children as well as artwork for his "This Is It" concerts. Giorgio began sketching out ideas during their talks.      

       "I was doing little drawings on the spot of him, and he loved it," says Giorgio of his black-and-white sketches. "He was great, he was really excited."       

       Giorgio says Jackson was a voracious art collector and was very specific about the kind of imagery he wanted of himself, jotting down instructions, some of which are included in the book.      

       Proceeds from the .$249, 400-page, 26-pound book will go toward Jackson's children and his mother, however, the Jackson family did not play any role in its creation.      

       Giorgio, who illustrated the book's cover sketch, recalls Jackson being anxious for him to start work on huge murals he planned to put in his Las Vegas residence: He wanted a painting of himself and his children walking through a forest.       

       "He kept telling me, come on, we gotta start on this — the kids are growing, and they are changing," he says.       

       While Giorgio drew elaborate, fantasy images of Jackson for the legend, he says the quick sketches he took of Jackson just before he died reveal the most: "They really capture more of the essence of him."