OREM — It is a magic world, the one that artist James C. Christensen invites you to enter. Fishes appear in unexpected locations. Boats carry amazing cargoes to unknown destinations. Pigs fly; hedgehogs come in heliotrope; goblin princesses have pet beetles.

In this place, there are no limits to imagination and creativity. Yet there is a lightness of being and an uplifting sense of purpose to it all. You want to linger. You want to savor. You want to spirit a tiny part of it away with you.

You can see and do all these things and more in the latest compilation of Christensen's work, a gorgeous coffee-table book book called "Men and Angels: The Art of James C. Christensen" (Greenwich Workshop Press, $85). The book, which was co-written by Kate Horowitz, features more than 300 full-color paintings and a selection of whimsical sketches from Christensen's private sketchbooks as well as anecdotes, thoughts and descriptions of each piece.

Christensen is one of the most recognizable and critically acclaimed living artists in the United States today, says Scott Usher, president of Greenwich Workshop Press. "We are very excited about the release of 'Men and Angels.' His work communi- cates on a level that is as personal as it is universal. He has the unique ability to give life to characters that appear to be both human and divine."

The book is also a fun journey of discovery for Christensen. "I'm not fond of any of my pieces when I finish them. I'm just glad they are going away," he says. "It's like composer Merrill Jenson told me once, 'It's because we know where all the bent nails are.' But give me a year or two, and I come back and think, 'That's nice.' I've forgotten where the personal problem areas are."

When people ask him which is his favorite painting, "I always say, 'The next one.' I always look forward to starting a new one. Then I get so involved I can't see it objectively. So, having a book with my work from the past 10, 20 years, that's pretty exciting, pretty fun."

Plus, he says, every artist dreams of "leaving the legacy behind. The book is a nice artifact for my children and grandchildren." (He and his wife, Carole, have five children: two daughters are now artists in their own right; a third daughter teaches art; the two sons "are not involved in art but are very creative people.")

When Christensen takes time to reflect on his career, he's as surprised as anyone, he says. "I didn't grow up in an artistic family. They liked art, but I didn't even know what art supplies were. I got my first supplies at Disneyland. They had an art shop in Tomorrowland that I absolutely loved."