Throughout the history of Pokémon there have been numerous artworks produced specifically for the TCG, but never actually printed (that we know of…).
Examples of this include some of the original Pokémon TCG Gameboy cards, runner ups from art contests, cards produced for a campaign / promotion, etc.
What’s your favorite card art that never came to be?
Druddigon 026/BW-P was to be released along seven other promos for participants of the 2011 World Championship - Japan Qualifiers (scheduled for early April, 2011). Unfortunately the event was cancelled due to the devastating Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami on March 11. The cards technically exist (and graded by CGC) but were never distributed.
The card artwork is CGI but features a nice reverse foil, plus I’m fan of druddigon’s design which matches well for its typing.
The card below was drawn by TOKIYA who is a certified weirdo
On DeviantArt he posted this image
Given how similar the art is and also the dimensions of the image, I really believe the art above was his first attempt at the card artwork and Creatures said 
(for some reason). Assuming my hunch is right, it’s a rare insight into a rejected card art.
Anyway, while looking for the above image I also found these high-res versions of actual cards so I will also post them here (again, the image dimensions are similar 
):
The Treecko and Porygon art looks amazing. Love it!
Weirdo yes but also has a great card art style.
I really like this one. It was created by Gemi for a Japanese magazine and sadly didn’t get released as a real card.
Edit: This Twitter post from HiResPokemon has a textless version of this card.
https://twitter.com/HiResPokemon/status/1429138670712414208?s=20&t=edOElEJ6oZ6ZMTbgveTd_g
That’s a pretty awesome suicune
Literally all the cards from the concept magazine, how could they tease something that would never come to exist:
These are amazing!
The one upside is that some of these artists did end up illustrating actual cards (Gemi, Yano Keiji, Amelicart, Ikegami Yoriyuki), so I’m hoping more of these concept illustrations show up in future Pokémon magazines to preview new talent
One of the arts from the wotc draw promo contest.
Iv so far had the first five arts they found from the contest turned into custom cards. The plans to turn all 24 loser arts into cards
I keep this mini binder purely for the artwork. Missed opportunity for a Water vs Fire (+ Venusaur 
) Tag Team card.
cpbog1
I remember stumbling upon this needlefelted Pikachu when looking at some old threads covering the 2020 Illustration Contest that I really liked. We have clay and crochet—I think there’s space for a needlefelting artist!
I found out about the Pikachu through the seemingly infamous bathtub Slowpoke of the 2019 (?) Illustration Contest:
It is standard practice in TCG art to give an art description and receive back three sketches that the company can choose from.
Just a little factoid that can help you give a little color to what this may be. They wouldn’t have necessarily rejected the art and asked for a different one so much as just chosen a different sketch of the three to proceed with.
