Sketching from life is more about the grasp of training the body for the beginning scholars. In terms of traditional sketches, the dao type is the most basic internal content. Therefore, we must pay attention to the cultivation of shu type.
It doesn't have to be any professional tools, a pen, a piece of paper, simple monotone lines to realize, no specific requirements. It's like realizing the final characteristics of things, more of grasping the shape of things

You can try to draw some scenery first, and then show it to others to see if you can recognize it, and then try the scenery, this is more freehand, pay attention to the choice, choose beautiful branches to depict.
In addition, if you do not have a basic sketch, it is recommended to start with sketching, starting with simple geometry, understanding the structure, training perspective skills, and then starting to experiment with light and shade to understand light and shadow. Because these will be used in sketching, the density, thickness, intensity and so on of the lines will have to go through a period of art literacy training before they can be used proficiently in sketching. A few strokes vividly outline what you are describing. thing.
Of course, it's not that you can't draw from life without a basic foundation. You can use your eyes and grasp the characteristics you feel to sketch out.
Starting with a pencil is the choice of most people. I prefer to use a pencil for rough drafting, and then use a pen to draw the ink line. This way, the training of my eyes is very good, there is no room for maneuver, I can only see the painting accurately. It was painful at first, and then I felt a lot.